Harlow
From Old English hær (“rock”) or here (“army”) + hlæw (“hill”).
Every Harlow since 1882 — 16,655 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Harlow
Harlow is moderately common for girls in the United States, ranked #309 in 2025 with 981 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1882, 16,655 American babies have been named Harlow — about 84% girls and 16% boys, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 2023, when 1,455 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 Harlow stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Harlow 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 | 981 | #309 | 167 | #1,214 |
| 2024 | 1,083 | #293 | 159 | #1,246 |
| 2023 | 1,273 | #238 | 182 | #1,151 |
| 2022 | 1,199 | #263 | 166 | #1,201 |
| 2021 | 1,278 | #237 | 86 | #1,818 |
| 2020 | 959 | #324 | 61 | #2,246 |
| 2019 | 1,009 | #316 | 45 | #2,778 |
| 2018 | 863 | #366 | 46 | #2,685 |
| 2017 | 798 | #390 | 38 | #3,088 |
| 2016 | 786 | #420 | 35 | #3,250 |
| 2015 | 759 | #422 | 24 | #4,211 |
| 2014 | 611 | #509 | 35 | #3,172 |
| 2013 | 545 | #546 | 31 | #3,439 |
| 2012 | 507 | #579 | 33 | #3,324 |
| 2011 | 465 | #623 | 13 | #6,367 |
| 2010 | 354 | #777 | 21 | #4,576 |
| 2009 | 301 | #905 | 18 | #5,169 |
| 2008 | 133 | #1,679 | 10 | #7,894 |
| 2007 | 28 | #5,145 | — | — |
| 2006 | 15 | #8,007 | 9 | #8,252 |
| 2005 | 11 | #9,688 | — | — |
| 2004 | 12 | #8,901 | — | — |
| 2003 | 10 | #9,937 | 6 | #10,031 |
| 2002 | 6 | #14,227 | — | — |
| 2001 | — | — | — | — |
| 2000 | — | — | — | — |
| 1995 | — | — | 5 | #9,363 |
| 1990 | — | — | — | — |
| 1985 | — | — | — | — |
| 1980 | — | — | — | — |
| 1975 | — | — | — | — |
| 1970 | — | — | 6 | #4,439 |
| 1965 | — | — | 5 | #4,137 |
| 1960 | — | — | 9 | #2,953 |
| 1955 | — | — | 12 | #2,358 |
| 1950 | — | — | 15 | #1,969 |
| 1945 | — | — | 21 | #1,466 |
| 1940 | — | — | 33 | #1,168 |
| 1935 | — | — | 31 | #1,213 |
| 1930 | — | — | 29 | #1,350 |
| 1925 | — | — | 23 | #1,604 |
| 1920 | — | — | 32 | #1,287 |
| 1915 | — | — | 36 | #1,075 |
| 1910 | — | — | 5 | #1,695 |
| 1905 | — | — | 6 | #1,157 |
| 1900 | — | — | 10 | #870 |
| 1895 | — | — | 7 | #926 |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — | 5 | #1,005 |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
Famous people named Harlow
- Harlow Shapley Astronomer · 1885–1972
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Harlow mean?
From Old English hær (“rock”) or here (“army”) + hlæw (“hill”).
How popular is the name Harlow in 2025?
Harlow ranked #309 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 981 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Harlow?
16,655 babies have been named Harlow in the United States since 1882, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Harlow most popular?
Harlow peaked in 2023, when 1,455 newborns received the name.
Is Harlow a boy or girl name?
Harlow is used for both: about 84% of babies named Harlow have been girls and 16% boys.
Is the name Harlow rising or falling?
Harlow is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Harlow?
Well-known people named Harlow include Harlow Shapley (astronomer).