Harlan: Meaning, origin and popularity

Pronounced HAHR-luhn · 2 syllables

Harlan means “grey; hare”, from English.

American contraction of Harland, from Old English har (“grey”) / hara (“hare”) + land (“land”).

How popular is Harlan?

Harlan was the #617 name in the US in 2025, given to 490 babies. It’s rising: up 83% on 2011–2015. It peaked around 1930.

Babies named Harlan in the US by five-year period, relative to its peak (around 1930).

Half of US adults named Harlan are older than 65; most are between 22 and 89. (Estimated from US births by year and life tables.)

Chosen by the same families or with a similar style and era.

Harlan means “grey; hare”. It comes from English.

Harlan is pronounced HAHR-luhn.

Harlan was the #617 name in the US in 2025, given to 490 babies. It’s rising: up 83% on 2011–2015. It peaked around 1930.

Half of US adults named Harlan are older than 65. Most are between 22 and 89.