Harlem Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Harlem is used for both girls and boys. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Harlem?
Harlem is spelled H-A-R-L-E-M. The name has 6 letters.
Harlem at a Glance
- Usage
- Used for both girls and boys
- Meaning
- Harlem may derive from a historic place name meaning “Haarlem”s settlement“ or ”Haarlem“s wood” from Dutch origins.
- Origin
- Harlem is commonly associated with the Dutch city of Haarlem, reflecting its use as a transferred place name in the United States.
- Pronunciation
- HAR-lum · 2 syllables
Harlem Popularity in 2025
Rank#1,458
Recorded Births147
Rank#970
Recorded Births236
- Girls usage fell 156 places to #1,458 and recorded 30 fewer births compared with 2024.
- Boys usage rose 43 places to #970 and recorded 16 more births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Harlem Mean?
Harlem may derive from a historic place name meaning “Haarlem”s settlement“ or ”Haarlem“s wood” from Dutch origins.
Origin: Harlem is commonly associated with the Dutch city of Haarlem, reflecting its use as a transferred place name in the United States.
How Do You Pronounce Harlem?
PronunciationHAR-lum
Syllables2
What Is the History of the Name Harlem?
- History
- Harlem has been used primarily as a place name, notably for a neighborhood in New York City, with personal name usage appearing more recently.
Harlem Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2014 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 147 | #1,458 |
| 2025 | Boys | 236 | #970 |
| 2024 | Girls | 177 | #1,302 |
| 2024 | Boys | 220 | #1,013 |
| 2023 | Girls | 155 | #1,439 |
| 2023 | Boys | 254 | #911 |
| 2022 | Girls | 129 | #1,638 |
| 2022 | Boys | 237 | #956 |
| 2021 | Girls | 141 | #1,498 |
| 2021 | Boys | 240 | #943 |
| 2020 | Girls | 158 | #1,373 |
| 2020 | Boys | 248 | #905 |
| 2019 | Girls | 133 | #1,598 |
| 2019 | Boys | 242 | #908 |
| 2018 | Girls | 100 | #1,968 |
| 2018 | Boys | 210 | #984 |
| 2017 | Girls | 101 | #1,964 |
| 2017 | Boys | 176 | #1,104 |
| 2016 | Girls | 93 | #2,093 |
| 2016 | Boys | 184 | #1,073 |
| 2015 | Girls | 90 | #2,123 |
| 2015 | Boys | 203 | #1,006 |
| 2014 | Girls | 70 | #2,535 |
| 2014 | Boys | 199 | #1,022 |
When Was Harlem Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
2023 · Boys
254 recorded births
National rank #911
2020 · Boys
248 recorded births
National rank #905
2019 · Boys
242 recorded births
National rank #908
2021 · Boys
240 recorded births
National rank #943
Where Harlem Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Girls
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| SC | #614 | 7 |
| LA | #677 | 6 |
| NC | #684 | 14 |
| GA | #710 | 14 |
| AL | #716 | 6 |
Top States for Boys
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| MS | #370 | 8 |
| LA | #450 | 10 |
| GA | #464 | 23 |
| NC | #485 | 21 |
| AR | #489 | 6 |
| MD | #516 | 9 |
| MI | #641 | 12 |