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Harvey as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Harvey

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The baby name Harvey is a Male name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced HAR-vee (IPA: /ˈhɑːrvi/; US: /ˈhɑrvi/).

Gender: Male
Syllables: 2.0
Pronunciation: HAR-vee (IPA: /ˈhɑːrvi/; US: /ˈhɑrvi/)

What is the meaning of the name Harvey ?

The baby name Harvey is a Male name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced HAR-vee (IPA: /ˈhɑːrvi/; US: /ˈhɑrvi/).

Harvey is in Origin.

Rooted in Breton, Harvey is the English form of Hervé, traced to Old Breton Haerviu (haer, “battle” + viu, “worthy/alive”), yielding the sense “battle‑worthy” or “eager for battle.” The French Hervé remains common in Brittany, while English records show Hervey as an older spelling; Scottish Harvie and the short form Harve also occur. Related surnames evolved independently in Ireland and Scotland, but the given name’s core meaning is martial vigor.

Carried to England by Norman settlers after 1066, Harvey took hold in medieval rolls before fading in the early modern era. A Victorian revival restored it to fashion, and it has since maintained steady, if cyclical, use across the English-speaking world. Associations range from the 6th-century Breton Saint Hervé to modern figures like activist Harvey Milk and actor Harvey Keitel, lending the name a blend of tradition and approachability.

Harvey has the following similar or variant Names

Famous people with the name Harvey

Harvey Keitel Actor · Born 1939 · United States Harvey Keitel is an actor from the United States, best known for his roles in films like 'Reservoir Dogs' and 'Pulp Fiction'. Born in 1939, he has been a significant figure in the film industry, often collaborating with directors like Martin Scorsese and Quentin Tarantino. Harvey Milk Politician · Born 1930 · United States Harvey Milk was an American politician best known as the first openly gay man elected to public office in California, serving on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. Born and raised in New York, he became a groundbreaking figure in LGBTQ+ political history. Harvey Weinstein Actor · Born 1952 · United States Harvey Weinstein is most famous for his role as a film producer and co-founder of Miramax, where he was involved in producing acclaimed films like 'Pulp Fiction' and 'Shakespeare in Love'. He became a central figure in the #MeToo movement due to numerous allegations of sexual misconduct, leading to his conviction and imprisonment.
Harvey Fierstein Actor · Born 1952 · United States Harvey Fierstein is an American actor, playwright, and screenwriter best known for his distinctive gravelly voice and his acclaimed theater work. He rose to prominence with Torch Song Trilogy, which earned him Tony Awards for Best Play and Best Actor in a Play. Harvey Korman Actor · Born 1927 · United States Harvey Korman was an American actor and comedian best known for being a main cast member on The Carol Burnett Show alongside Carol Burnett, Tim Conway, and Vicki Lawrence. He appeared on the hit CBS sketch series from 1967 to 1977 and won four Primetime Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe for his work. Harvey Guillén Actor · Born 1990 · United States Harvey Guillén is an actor from the United States best known for his role as Guillermo de la Cruz in the hit TV series 'What We Do in the Shadows'. Born in 1990, he has also appeared in shows like 'The Magicians' and 'Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist'. His performances often bring a unique blend of humor and depth to his characters.

Celebrity babies named Harvey

Name Last Name(s) Mother Mother famous for Fame Level Father Father famous for Fame Level
Harvey Neville Phil Neville association footballer

Harvey – Popularity by country

Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.

Country Gender Year Rank Born of
Ireland Boys 2025 #1 836
BW 0 #19 1 960
MO 0 #50 3 2,706
HN Boys 0 #52 1 749
LU 0 #65 2 2,830
JP 0 #76 2 4,057
MV Boys 0 #79 1 3,375
PH 0 #86 11 5,607
JM 0 #90 4 3,714
QA 0 #102 5 7,011
TW 0 #102 2 4,523
EC 0 #121 1 2,502
CY Boys 0 #130 2 3,473
Switzerland Boys 2024 #134 4 1,769
ID Boys 0 #134 2 4,130
PA 0 #137 2 3,797
BN Boys 0 #138 2 6,332
BW Boys 0 #151 4 4,685
CR 0 #162 4 5,526
PR Girls 0 #167 1 3,171
HU Boys 0 #174 1 3,954
Canada Boys 2024 #177 134 2,588
MT Boys 0 #177 3 4,064
PR Boys 0 #178 1 2,508
Sweden Boys 2022 #180 3 1,509
HR 0 #181 1 2,081
AE 0 #183 5 10,220
TW Boys 0 #223 19 7,111
MO Boys 0 #226 9 5,842
PS 0 #226 1 5,692
United States Boys 2024 #230 1,441 7,044
PH Boys 0 #242 150 11,440
CN Boys 0 #246 76 9,639
AO Boys 0 #248 2 5,568
NA Boys 0 #251 3 6,830
JM Boys 0 #253 20 6,876
HR Boys 0 #259 1 3,997
MO Girls 0 #262 2 7,056
GR Boys 0 #273 1 6,912
JM Girls 0 #276 3 7,507
SG 0 #277 6 11,010
IL 0 #280 3 6,291
KZ Boys 0 #292 5 6,578
HR Girls 0 #294 1 3,687
JP Boys 0 #301 3 7,909
CZ Boys 0 #302 4 6,530
MY 0 #320 11 12,352
PE 0 #328 2 6,350
HK 0 #330 19 8,483
DK Boys 0 #331 2 7,401
GT 0 #335 4 5,948
PL Boys 0 #340 1 6,459
QA Girls 0 #342 2 15,378
MU Boys 0 #348 10 8,477
CO Boys 0 #349 1,078 15,656
GH Boys 0 #357 5 8,138
CN Girls 0 #359 1 8,829
France Boys 2021 #375 13 2,865
PT Boys 0 #379 3 7,951
JO Boys 0 #387 3 7,057
YE 0 #398 1 8,639
CO 0 #399 82 7,768
BO 0 #408 1 6,868
EG 0 #410 3 6,387
UY Boys 0 #413 1 5,922
CR Boys 0 #418 70 10,188
HK Boys 0 #418 112 12,905
OM Girls 0 #421 4 15,987
PH Girls 0 #424 6 13,098
ZA 0 #432 16 14,421
CL 0 #434 1 6,867
MX 0 #442 4 8,339
GT Boys 0 #465 10 7,625
SD Boys 0 #466 1 10,523
PA Boys 0 #467 15 9,305
AR Boys 0 #479 5 7,628
PA Girls 0 #518 1 9,861
RU Boys 0 #519 8 12,621
RU Girls 0 #523 1 11,913
PS Boys 0 #531 18 10,655
CM Boys 0 #537 14 12,054
PS Girls 0 #547 1 10,981
KW Girls 0 #555 7 19,177
CM Girls 0 #559 2 11,671
LY 0 #559 1 12,703
IR Boys 0 #563 3 10,162
CR Girls 0 #573 1 11,342
BH 0 #583 5 17,937
IL Boys 0 #588 20 10,983
AE Girls 0 #594 4 20,968
BO Boys 0 #617 6 9,244
SG Girls 0 #629 4 18,916
SG Boys 0 #636 62 17,960
IL Girls 0 #645 1 11,648
CL Boys 0 #647 19 13,390
HK Girls 0 #647 4 16,104
Finland Boys 2026 #670 13 3,552
LB 0 #690 1 13,263
QA Boys 0 #690 18 18,093
IQ Boys 0 #693 5 13,071
IT 0 #704 11 4,183
KW Boys 0 #751 19 18,755
BR Boys 0 #784 2 12,213
NL Boys 0 #793 159 5,873
PE Boys 0 #805 74 14,506
NG Girls 0 #823 4 15,093
EG Boys 0 #844 43 15,035
TN 0 #864 2 13,765
OM Boys 0 #871 11 17,948
United States Girls 2024 #891 26 8,487
Spain Boys 0 #891 40 5,610
NG Boys 0 #906 46 16,906
MX Boys 0 #907 76 16,355
Germany Boys 0 #934 19 5,697
ZA Boys 0 #935 246 25,619
EG Girls 0 #1,007 3 14,742
SA Girls 0 #1,010 5 25,931
MY Boys 0 #1,014 98 25,439
IN Boys 0 #1,039 1 16,750
AE Boys 0 #1,042 51 22,615
MY Girls 0 #1,071 2 24,821
MA 0 #1,116 13 20,986
CO Girls 0 #1,150 3 16,140
DZ 0 #1,166 11 20,130
TR 0 #1,197 15 19,440
ZA Girls 0 #1,229 8 25,928
MX Girls 0 #1,265 3 17,781
IT Boys 0 #1,419 53 10,046
SA Boys 0 #1,497 118 28,008

Harvey is popular in 77 countries — most recent births per country:

Scotland, United Kingdom
Canada
France
Ireland
England & Wales, United Kingdom

Did we miss something about this name? Let us know!

People also ask about Harvey

Harvey is predominantly a boy's name.
Harvey is a 2 syllable name, pronounced HAR-vee (IPA: /ˈhɑːrvi/; US: /ˈhɑrvi/).
Common nicknames and spelling variations include Hervé, Herve, Hervey, Harvie and Harv.
Yes, very popular — Harvey ranked #1 in Ireland in 2025, and appears in official birth registries across 10 countries.
Harvey ranks highest in Ireland (#1 in 2025).
Harvey's popularity is holding steady. It moved from #1 in 2015 to #1 in 2025 in Ireland.
Yes — 7 notable people named Harvey are in our database, including Harvey Keitel (Actor), Harvey Milk (Politician), Harvey Weinstein (Actor).
Yes — at least 1 celebrity couple has chosen Harvey for their child, including Phil Neville.