Harlan Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Harlan is an English name originating from Old English, meaning 'land of the hare'. It evolved from historical forms like Hareland to its current form. The name is often associated with traits of resilience and creativity, and it has no biblical relevance. It gained popularity in the United States in the late 19th century and continues to be perceived positively today.
The name Harlan is most popular in South Dakota, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Silent Generation generation in the MidWest region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Harlan has been too falling for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, too falling for male in South, stalled for female in South, falling for male in West, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for male in West, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Harlan' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 297th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 295th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 453rd out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 776th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 1245th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 1476th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 760th out of 23106 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 8441st out of 9107 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 15827th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 4391st out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Harlan' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Harlan"
Pronunciation
/ˈhɑːrlən/
Origin
Old English
Etymology
The name Harlan is derived from the Old English elements 'hare' meaning 'hare' and 'land' meaning 'land' or 'homestead'. It essentially means 'land where hares are found'.
Meaning
land of the hare
Language Evolution
Hareland, Harlan
Historical Usage
The name Harlan gained popularity in the United States during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, particularly as a surname before becoming established as a given name.
Variants & Derivatives
Harley, Harlon
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Harlan is viewed as a strong and unique name, often associated with resilience and creativity.
Famous People
Harlan Coben - an American author known for his thrillers., Harlan Ellison - a prolific American writer known for his speculative fiction.
Explore More Harlan Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Harlan"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Harlan"
"Harlan" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 297th of 7545 | 5,639 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 295th of 6773 | 6,644 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 453rd of 7552 | 5,121 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 776th of 10718 | 1,778 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 1245th of 16616 | 1,144 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 1476th of 24088 | 1,532 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 760th of 23106 | 3,906 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 8441st of 9107 | 7 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 15827th of 35406 | 69 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 4391st of 30306 | 387 |
Regional Popularity of "Harlan" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
13.21% 187th/1416 |
28.86% 398th/1379 |
19.44% 460th/2366 |
28.20% 322nd/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
11.32% 175th/1546 |
26.22% 408th/1556 |
20.02% 471st/2353 |
23.27% 360th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
13.47% 300th/2227 |
22.22% 540th/2430 |
21.21% 605th/2853 |
18.74% 520th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
23.73% 697th/2937 |
28.22% 983rd/3483 |
24.56% 864th/3518 |
20.80% 841st/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
41.98% 1547th/3685 |
35.35% 1582nd/4475 |
30.65% 1592nd/5194 |
21.72% 1372nd/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
33.13% 1518th/4582 |
34.35% 1774th/5164 |
23.44% 1714th/7313 |
19.80% 1478th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
15.56% 620th/3984 |
24.09% 1081st/4487 |
11.10% 757th/6822 |
12.24% 768th/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Harlan" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - |
100.00% 7463rd/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - |
65.11% 4442nd/6822 |
84.00% 5272nd/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Harlan"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Harlan" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.