Skip to main content
 
Namesake

A name chosen, not stumbled upon.

Explore
  • All Names
  • Celtic Names
  • Norse Names
  • Rising Names
  • Gender-Neutral Names
More lists
  • Name Collections
  • Hebrew & Biblical
  • Nature Names
  • Literary Names
  • Rare & Beautiful
  • Classic Names
Guides
  • How to Choose a Name
  • Baby Name Checklist
  • Partner Disagreement
  • Popularity Data
  • Pronunciation Test

Made with love for growing families.

PrivacyTermsContactOur storyHow it works

© 2026 Namesake · namesake.baby

Data: Social Security Administration, US births 1880–2024

Harlem — Meaning, Origin & Popularity | Namesake
All names
Harleigh|Harlen
English◈ Unisex · 56% boy · 44% girl↓ Fading

◈= unisex (gender-neutral)

Harlem

◈

HAR-lem · 2 syllables

Share Harlem:
Compare with another name
Boy
#1012
↓ Fading
Boy
#1012
Popularity score: 30
↓ Fading
Peak
#905 in 2020
5yr
-101 ranks
Velocity
-101
Birth frequency
6.1 per 100,000 births
Girl
#1298
Popularity score: 28
↑↑ Surging
Peak
#1298 in 2024
5yr
+146 ranks
Velocity
+146
Birth frequency
4.9 per 100,000 births

Popularity Over Time

↑ Higher on this chart = more popular · ↓ Lower = less popular

How Popular Is This Name?

Bars show the range of popularity for each group. The dot shows where this name sits. Further right = more popular.

BOY
Average0255075100Popularity score (0–100)20202024

Rank #1012 · Falling since 2020

All US boy names
Top 200 boy names
English boy names
Harlem

Popularity score: 30  ·  SSA Rank: #1012

GIRL
Average0255075100Popularity score (0–100)20202024

Rank #1298 · Rising since 2020

All US girl names
Top 200 girl names
English girl names
Harlem

Popularity score: 28  ·  SSA Rank: #1298

Rare  ·  Distinctive  ·  Familiar  ·  Common  ·  Very Common

Popularity score: 0 = least popular, 100 = most popular. Based on SSA rank.

Namesake Score
55
Higher than 55% of names
Combines uniqueness, trend, meaning, feasibility, and search interest.
Trend
↓ Fading
-101 ranks
Based on SSA rank velocity
Feasibility
Limited
.com taken · — · clear
Low friction, available
Uniqueness
80
2 per 10,000 births
Won't be common in class

Harlem scores well on uniqueness but there are tradeoffs — the popularity trend is fading.

Meaning Depth37% of score
60
Name Trend28% of score
32
Uniqueness20% of score
80
Feasibility15% of score
50

Scores are percentile-ranked across 43,000+ names.

Name DNA
ModernPlace NameUnisex2-syllableUrbanDutch originNature-inspiredCoolTrendy
Character
urban resiliencecultural prideartistic expressionbold confidencecommunity spirit
People with this name

Qualities shared by notable Harlems

progressiveactivistprincipleddiplomaticdedicated
STRONG
High confidence

Harlem is an English unisex name with cooling SSA momentum. It ranked #1012 in the US in 2024.

Trend:↓ Fading · -101 ranks
Feasibility:.com taken · — · clear
Popularity:#1012 · rare
Harlem at a Glance
Meaning:High riverbank or elevated land by a river. Named after the historic Harlem neighborhood in Amsterdam, which derives from a marshy region with higher ground formations.
Language root:Dutch · Middle Dutch · Germanic
Peak rank:#905 in 2020
5yr change:-101 ranks
Sex usage:Boy #1012 · Girl #1298
Notable bearers
Harlem Désir
French politician and diplomat
Harlem Brundtland
Norwegian politician and physician
Similar Sound
Harmon◈Harlowe◈Hadley◈Harbor◈Heron◈
Similar Style
Brooklyn◈Hudson◈Aspen◈Rowan◈Everett◈
Works well with
Wren◈Indigo◈Quinn◈River◈Sage◈Stellan◈Cleo◈Ezra◈
You Might Also Like
Hudson◈
English · #22
→ Stable
Rowan◈
Celtic · #71
→ Stable
Everett◈
English · #85
→ Stable
Jack
English · #15
→ Stable
Jackson
English · #35
→ Stable
Maverick
English · #36
→ Stable
Source: Social Security Administration baby names data. Popularity data reflects US births. Feasibility data updated monthly.
Harlem illustration
Name Intelligence
Harlem · Overview
Summary

Harlem is an English unisex name with cooling SSA momentum. It ranked #1012 in the US in 2024.

Search interest: 8/100 → Stable

Strengths
Works for any sex
56% boy · 44% girl. A genuinely unisex name is rare at this level of distinctiveness.
Modern · Nature character
Harlem carries a cool, grounded quality that makes it distinctive without being invented.
Considerations
Popularity declining
Rank has dropped 101 positions in the last year. Consider whether this trajectory matters for your decision.
Domain taken
harlem.com is not available. Alternative TLDs may work.
Explore

Add to watchlists or your list with + Save next to the name above.

Data source:Social Security Administration
Coverage:US births 1879–2024
Updated:January 2025
ISR:Refreshes monthly
Namesake
Name WizardName CollectionsAll NamesName CascadeBaby ShowerMy Name List

Still deciding?

Every naming product helps you find names. Namesake is the only one built to help you choose one.

Score what matters to you. Run names head-to-head. Arrive at the one name you can both explain and defend.

Start the Name Wizard →