Harvard
Harvard is a boy's name of English origin.
Meaning
Army guard or high guardian.
Origin and history
Harvard originated as an English surname derived from Old English or Old Norse elements related to army protection or high guardian. In the United States, it is occasionally used as a given name, heavily associated with the famous university in Massachusetts. It remains extremely rare as a first name in modern birth records.
Popularity in the United States
614 babies in the United States have been named Harvard since 1880. It ranks #4062 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1917.
States where it is most popular
- NY (100 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 137 |
| 1920-1930 | 138 |
| 1930-1940 | 136 |
| 1940-1950 | 87 |
| 1950-1960 | 45 |
| 1960-1970 | 17 |
| 1970-1980 | 5 |
| 1980-1990 | 6 |
| 1990-2000 | 0 |
| 2000-2010 | 6 |
| 2010-2019 | 27 |
| 2020-2029 | 10 |
Fun facts
- The name is strongly linked to Harvard University, which was named after benefactor John Harvard in 1639.
- It derived from the Middle English personal name Hereward or the Old Norse Herevarðr.