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The short answer
Harlan is a masculine name used in English. Behind the Name describes it this way: "From a surname that was from a place name meaning ‘hare land’ in Old English. In America it has sometimes been given in honour of Supreme Court justice John Marshall Harlan (1833-1911)." It ranked #617 for boys in the United States in 2025.
Meaning and etymology
According to Behind the Name, from a surname that was from a place name meaning ‘hare land’ in Old English. In America it has sometimes been given in honour of Supreme Court justice John Marshall Harlan (1833-1911). The entry lists its usage as English.
Editorial confidence: established
Popularity
Harlan ranked #617 for boys in the United States in 2025. The figure comes from the Social Security Administration's national file for that year.
| Region | Year | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2025 | #617 | ssa-2025 |
If you like this name
Names that Behind the Name files under the same origin (English) and that sit near Harlan in the 2025 American rankings.
Similar by origin
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Harlan mean?
Harlan means "hare land", according to Behind the Name.
Is Harlan a popular name?
Harlan ranked #617 for boys in the United States in 2025. (Social Security Administration data).
Is Harlan a boy's or a girl's name?
In the 2025 SSA data Harlan appears in the boys' list; Behind the Name labels it masculine.
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Harlan — supports meaning, usage, pronunciation, variants.
- U.S. Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names — national data, year of birth 2025 — supports popularity.
