Harlem
Every Harlem since 1975 — 5,182 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Harlem
Harlem is uncommon for boys in the United States, ranked #971 in 2025 with 236 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1975, 5,182 American babies have been named Harlem — about 66% boys and 34% girls, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 2023, when 409 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 2020s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Harlem stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Harlem year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 147 | #1,462 | 236 | #971 |
| 2024 | 177 | #1,302 | 220 | #1,015 |
| 2023 | 155 | #1,441 | 254 | #911 |
| 2022 | 129 | #1,640 | 237 | #957 |
| 2021 | 141 | #1,501 | 240 | #944 |
| 2020 | 158 | #1,377 | 248 | #906 |
| 2019 | 133 | #1,600 | 242 | #909 |
| 2018 | 100 | #1,971 | 210 | #990 |
| 2017 | 101 | #1,966 | 176 | #1,105 |
| 2016 | 93 | #2,099 | 184 | #1,074 |
| 2015 | 90 | #2,131 | 203 | #1,008 |
| 2014 | 70 | #2,544 | 199 | #1,023 |
| 2013 | 55 | #3,021 | 160 | #1,136 |
| 2012 | 43 | #3,667 | 95 | #1,628 |
| 2011 | 28 | #4,971 | 88 | #1,693 |
| 2010 | 31 | #4,653 | 103 | #1,553 |
| 2009 | 40 | #3,901 | 86 | #1,765 |
| 2008 | 17 | #7,531 | 71 | #1,989 |
| 2007 | 14 | #8,698 | 51 | #2,486 |
| 2006 | 7 | #14,108 | 53 | #2,359 |
| 2005 | — | — | 33 | #3,113 |
| 2004 | 5 | #17,060 | 20 | #4,317 |
| 2003 | 6 | #14,510 | 11 | #6,412 |
| 2002 | — | — | 7 | #8,790 |
| 2001 | — | — | — | — |
| 2000 | 5 | #15,924 | 5 | #11,008 |
| 1995 | — | — | — | — |
| 1990 | — | — | — | — |
| 1985 | — | — | — | — |
| 1980 | — | — | — | — |
| 1975 | — | — | 5 | #5,791 |
| 1970 | — | — | — | — |
| 1965 | — | — | — | — |
| 1960 | — | — | — | — |
| 1955 | — | — | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — | — | — |
| 1945 | — | — | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — | — | — |
| 1935 | — | — | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — | — | — |
| 1925 | — | — | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — | — | — |
| 1915 | — | — | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
Famous people named Harlem
- Harlem Désir Politician · b. 1959
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
How popular is the name Harlem in 2025?
Harlem ranked #971 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 236 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Harlem?
5,182 babies have been named Harlem in the United States since 1975, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Harlem most popular?
Harlem peaked in 2023, when 409 newborns received the name.
Is Harlem a boy or girl name?
Harlem is used for both: about 34% of babies named Harlem have been girls and 66% boys.
Is the name Harlem rising or falling?
Harlem is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Harlem?
Well-known people named Harlem include Harlem Désir (politician).