Harlem
Meaningfrom Harlem, New York · Dutch
- US rank
- #970
- Syllables
- 2
- Peak
- #905 in 2020
236 babies were named Harlem in the US in 2025. It has dropped 65 places in five years.
Found on lists
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US births per million girls, 2000–2025
US births per million boys, 1975–2025
Most popular states (2025)
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Harlem you might not know, from US birth records. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
- How commonAbout 1 in every 7,236 baby boys born in the US in 2025 was named Harlem, 236 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Harlem would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryHarlem first shows up in US birth records in 1975, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 50 years since.
- Best yearIts best year was 2020, when it reached #905.
- Then vs nowHarlem is 55× more common today than it was in 2000. In 2000 it was given to about 1 in 400,000 baby boys; in 2025, about 1 in 7,236.
- TrendHarlem has slipped 65 places over the last five years and now sits at #970. Good news if you want a familiar name that fewer kids will share.
- Where it's lovedHarlem is most popular in Mississippi, where it ranks #370, followed by Louisiana (#450) and Georgia (#464). It's in the top 1,000 in 11 states.
- Boy or girlHarlem is given to both boys and girls: 62% of the 383 babies named Harlem in 2025 were boys. That makes it one of the names that truly works for either.
- MeaningIn Dutch, Harlem means “from Harlem, New York”.
About the name Harlem
Harlem is a gender-neutral name meaning “from Harlem, New York”. It has 6 letters and 2 syllables, starting with H and ending in “-lem”. US birth records list Harlem for boys from 1975 to 2025, in 26 of those 51 years. Its best year was 2020, when it ranked #905 among boy names. In 2025 it ranked #970, with 236 babies. Of the 383 US babies named Harlem in 2025, 38% were girls and 62% were boys.
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 5.1 | 197,628 girls |
| 2010s | 43 | 23,386 girls |
| 2020s | 93 | 10,722 girls |
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0.6 | 1,562,500 boys |
| 2000s | 17 | 59,916 boys |
| 2010s | 89 | 11,276 boys |
| 2020s | 139 | 7,220 boys |
Questions about the name Harlem
What does the name Harlem mean?
Harlem means “from Harlem, New York” in Dutch.
Is Harlem a boy or girl name?
Both. Harlem is used for boys and girls: in 2025, 38% of US babies named Harlem were girls.
How popular is the name Harlem?
Harlem ranked #970 for US boys in 2025, given to 236 babies. Its best year was 2020 (#905).