Harlan

Meaning: Grey land, or hare's land
Origin: English surname — American form of Harland

Boy's name · #617 in the US (2025) · Comeback

Popularity over time

Harlan was #253 in 1924, slipped to #2061 by 2004, and has climbed back to #617 today. About 26,000 boys have carried it since 1880. In all that time it has never once missed a year of the national records.

Across the states

See where Harlan is more common.

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 34 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Around the world

See how Harlan ranks in other countries and regions.

#474 in England & Wales (2025) · #762 in Scotland (2025) · #782 in Canada (2025) · #4,371 in France (2025) · #4,439 in Ecuador (2025) · #785 in Ireland (2024) · #2,193 in Sweden (2023) · #330 in New Zealand (2020).

Famous Harlans

Harlan Ellison — American writer (1934–2018)
Harlan Coben — American writer (born 1962)
Harlan F. Stone — Chief Justice of the United States from 1941 to 1946 (1872–1946)
Harlan Crow — American-Kittitian real estate developer and conservative leader (born 1949)
Harlan Blayne Kytwayhat — Cree actor from Canada (born 1998)

In stories & tradition

Harlan Wade — F.E.A.R. (video game)

What Harlans become

Among 138 notable people named Harlan:

Scientists & scholars appear 1.38× more often than among typical names — e.g. Harlan Parker Banks, American paleontologist (1913–1998).

Similar names: Arlan · Rocco · Arlen · Winston · Archie · Robin

Browse more boy names — popularity, trends and eras for 5,700+ American names, free.

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