Harlan is a strong baby name used for boys and girls that began as an English surname. It was even once a top 300 name option in the early twentieth century. As of the year 2020, however, it is a top 700 name.
Meaning of the name Harlan:
English: hare land, rocky land
Origin of the name Harlan:
The baby name Harlan originated as a surname in the Middle Ages in England. It was for families who lived among rocky areas, where rabbits and hare commonly resided. The name became a popular first name option within the last couple of centuries.
Symbolism of the name Harlan:
Harlan retains the meaning of the old English surname. It was regarded as the place that people lived in.
Style of the name Harlan:
Traditional
Gender of the name Harlan:
Harlan is used for boys and girls, but it is much more popular for boys.
Pronunciation of the name Harlan:
HAHR-len
Number of syllables in the name Harlan:
Two
Emotion evoked from the name Harlan:
Harlan is a strong name that feels somewhat rugged. It is very unique too in the popularity of the trend of using surnames.
Alternative spellings for the name Harlan:
- Harlen
- Harlyn
- Harllan
- Harllen
- Harllyn
Nicknames for the name Harlan:
- Har
- Harry
- Lan
- Lannie
- Lanny
- Lanney
Popularity of the name Harlan:
Harlan was a top 300 baby name option from 1921 to 1939. It did remain on the top 1,000 list until 1982 when it was rank 937 before having a steep drop off. Harlan returned to the top 1,000 list in 2013 at rank 846. As of 2020, the name ranks at number 686.
Related names for the name Harlan:
Great middle names for Harlan and their meanings:
- Avery (ruler of elves)
- Frances (free one)
- Ada (nobility)
- May (wished-for-child, bitter)
- Nola (white shoulder)
- Wyatt (hardy, brave, strong)
- Keats (shed worker)
- Isaac (one who laughs)
- Wells (spring, stream)
- Gregory (to be awake)
Famous people with the name Harlan:
- Harlan Stone (twelfth chief justice in America)
- Harlan Coben (novelist)
- Harlan Ellison (fiction novelist)
- Harlan Lattimore (jazz singer)
- Harlan Briggs (actor, “Dodsworth”)
- Harlan Howard (songwriter)
- Harlan Hubbard (painter)
Harlans in popular culture:
- Harlan Carruthers (character from “Down in the Valley”)
- Harlan Whitford (character from “Safe House”)
- Harlan Wade (character from “F.E.A.R.”)
- Harlan Jeeters (character from “American Gothic”)
- Harlan Carson (character from “The Walking Dead”)
- Harlan Puckett (character from “Thelma and Louise”)
- Harlan Ogilvy (character from “War of the Worlds”)