Harlem
Harlem is a boy's name of Dutch origin.
Meaning
Home on a wooded height.
Origin and history
Harlem is a place-name origin derived from the Dutch city of Haarlem, later becoming a famous neighborhood in New York City. The name has seen a modern surge in usage as a given name for boys in the United States. It carries strong cultural associations with history, music, and the arts.
Popularity in the United States
3,437 babies in the United States have been named Harlem since 1880. It ranks #2182 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #880.
States where it is most popular
- CA (11.5 %)
- TX (10.4 %)
- GA (7.9 %)
- LA (7.7 %)
- OH (6.5 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 0 |
| 1920-1930 | 0 |
| 1930-1940 | 0 |
| 1940-1950 | 0 |
| 1950-1960 | 0 |
| 1960-1970 | 0 |
| 1970-1980 | 5 |
| 1980-1990 | 0 |
| 1990-2000 | 0 |
| 2000-2010 | 337 |
| 2010-2019 | 1,660 |
| 2020-2029 | 1,435 |
Fun facts
- The name originally stems from the Dutch city of Haarlem, meaning a high wooded place near water.
- The New York neighborhood of Harlem became globally famous during the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s.
- Harlem has gained notable traction as a given name in the United States only in recent decades.