Will my child share the name Harlan with classmates?

Unlikely. With around 82 UK babies named Harlan per year, your child will almost certainly be the only Harlan in their class, and possibly the only one in the whole school.

Is Harlan becoming more or less popular in the UK?

Harlan is at its highest recorded position — #474 in 2025, with 82 births. In 2020 it ranked #627.

Is Harlan popular in the US as well as the UK?

Harlan is more popular in the UK (#529) than in the US (#666). Names with strong rankings in both countries tend to have broad cross-cultural appeal, working well for international families or those with ties to both nations.

Who are some famous people named Harlan?

Notable people named Harlan include: John Marshall Harlan, Harlan K. Ullman and Olivia Harlan.

Is Harlan a popular baby name in the United States?

Harlan ranks #666 in the US top 1,000 (2024). It's recognised in America but considerably more popular in the UK.

👦 Boy's name 💎 Relatively Unique UK #474

Harlan

🗳️ Add Harlan to a family shortlist

Harlan is a distinctive choice, ranked #474 in 2025. Your child is likely to be the only Harlan in their class.

💎

UK Rank 2025

#474

US Rank #617

About the Name Harlan

Harlan is currently at its most popular point on record, sitting at UK #529. The name has climbed 98 places in the last five years — a significant surge by any measure. The name has been a consistent presence in UK records since 1996.

Harlan is fairly common in the UK, so your child is very likely to be the only Harlan in their class.

In the US it sits at #666 — notably more popular in the UK than across the Atlantic.

⭐ Famous People Named Harlan

John Marshall Harlan — John Marshall Harlan was an American lawyer and politician who served as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from 1877 until his death in 1911.
Harlan K. Ullman — Harlan Kenneth Ullman is Chairman of the Killowen Group that advises leaders of government and business; Chairman of CNIGuard Ltd and CNIGuard Inc, engaged in protection of critical infrastructure; Senior Advisor of the Atlantic Council in Washington, DC; and…
Josiah Harlan — Josiah Harlan, Prince of Ghor was an American adventurer who travelled to Afghanistan and Punjab with the intention of making himself a king.

Biographical summaries are shortened from Wikipedia and are used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence; those summaries remain available under that same licence.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about the name Harlan

UK babies named Harlan (2025)

< 1

Expected classmates with this name (class of 28)

~0.0

In a school of 600

↑ 153 places

Rank change (last 5 years)

🏫 Who else is in the room?

In a typical UK class of 28, highlighted children share the name Harlan

Almost certainly the only Harlan in the class

UK Popularity (1996–2025)

Rank and birth count · ONS official data

US Popularity (2020–2025)

Rank · SSA official data

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Famous People Named Harlan

Notable people who share this name, from history to the present day. See full list on Wikipedia

John Marshall Harlan1911

John Marshall Harlan was an American lawyer and politician who served as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from 1877 until his death in 1911.

Harlan K. Ullman

Harlan Kenneth Ullman is Chairman of the Killowen Group that advises leaders of government and business; Chairman of CNIGuard Ltd and CNIGuard Inc, engaged in protection of critical infrastructure; Senior Advisor of the Atlantic Council in Washington, DC; and active on a number of private boards.

Josiah Harlan

Josiah Harlan, Prince of Ghor was an American adventurer who travelled to Afghanistan and Punjab with the intention of making himself a king.

Bob Harlan

Robert Ernest Harlan was an American football executive who served as the president of the Green Bay Packers for 19 years.

Olivia Harlan

Olivia Harlan Dekker is an American sportscaster, working as a sideline reporter for ESPN College Football, the NFL on Westwood One Sports, and Big Ten Network basketball.