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Harlan as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Harlan

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The baby name Harlan is a Male name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced /ˈhɑːrlən/ (HAR-lən).

Harlan is English in Origin.

Gender: Male
Syllables: 2.0
Origin: English
Pronunciation: /ˈhɑːrlən/ (HAR-lən)

What is the meaning of the name Harlan ?

The baby name Harlan is a Male name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced /ˈhɑːrlən/ (HAR-lən).

Harlan is English in Origin.

Harlan is an English surname-turned-given name from Old English hara "hare" + land "land," meaning "hare's land," likely referring to a meadow frequented by hares. It alternates with Harland and also appears in German surname traditions, but the English place-name origin best explains modern usage. The name carries a steady, rustic tone with vintage Americana appeal.

As a first name, Harlan rose in the United States in the late 19th century, peaked in the 1910s-1930s, and has seen a modest revival with the surname-name trend. Notable bearers include Chief Justice Harlan F. Stone, writers Harlan Ellison and Harlan Coben; Kentucky's Harlan County honors pioneer Silas Harlan. Variants include Harland, Harlen, Harlin, and Harlyn; feminine forms Harlene and Harleen; nicknames Harl and Harley.

Harlan has the following similar or variant Names

Harlan – Popularity by country

Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.

Country Gender Year Rank Born of
Ireland Boys 2024 #1 820
CN 0 #86 1 3,857
PH 0 #109 2 5,607
CY Girls 0 #125 1 3,755
ID Boys 0 #135 1 4,130
HU Boys 0 #174 1 3,954
TW Boys 0 #255 2 7,111
Canada Boys 2024 #263 44 2,588
KZ Boys 0 #296 1 6,578
CN Boys 0 #327 5 9,639
PE 0 #328 2 6,350
GT 0 #338 1 5,948
HK 0 #357 1 8,483
CN Girls 0 #359 1 8,829
BR 0 #360 1 5,969
France Boys 2021 #382 6 2,865
PH Boys 0 #407 2 11,440
PH Girls 0 #428 2 13,098
MX 0 #445 1 8,339
ZA 0 #474 1 14,421
GT Boys 0 #498 2 7,625
CR Boys 0 #502 9 10,188
PA Boys 0 #503 3 9,305
CO 0 #510 1 7,768
United States Boys 2024 #531 411 7,044
IR Girls 0 #545 1 8,334
HK Boys 0 #555 3 12,905
BO Boys 0 #620 3 9,244
CL Boys 0 #695 6 13,390
BR Boys 0 #723 29 12,213
SG Boys 0 #739 1 17,960
QA Boys 0 #743 1 18,093
United States Girls 2024 #873 44 8,487
CO Boys 0 #891 30 15,656
PE Boys 0 #918 9 14,506
NG Boys 0 #999 3 16,906
MX Boys 0 #1,029 5 16,355
IN Boys 0 #1,039 1 16,750
MY Boys 0 #1,099 13 25,439
AE Boys 0 #1,141 3 22,615
ZA Boys 0 #1,165 14 25,619
TR 0 #1,253 2 19,440
SA Boys 0 #1,686 6 28,008

Harlan is popular in 30 countries — most recent births per country:

Canada
United States
France
Ireland
Scotland, United Kingdom

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People also ask about Harlan

Harlan is predominantly a boy's name.
Harlan is a 2 syllable name, pronounced /ˈhɑːrlən/ (HAR-lən).
Common nicknames and spelling variations include Harland, Harlen, Harlon and Harlin.
Yes, very popular — Harlan ranked #1 in Ireland in 2024, and appears in official birth registries across 5 countries.
Harlan ranks highest in Ireland (#1 in 2024).
Harlan's popularity is rising significantly. It moved from #314 in 2014 to #263 in 2024 in Canada.