Harvey
Harvey is a boy's name of Germanic origin.
Meaning
Battle worthy or eager for battle.
Origin and history
Harvey is derived from the Breton personal name Haerviu, composed of elements meaning battle and worthy. It was introduced to England by the Normans and became a traditional masculine given name and surname. In the United States, it was a classic top-100 name in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and continues to be regularly used today.
Popularity in the United States
127,925 babies in the United States have been named Harvey since 1880. It ranks #262 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #325.
States where it is most popular
- NY (8.8 %)
- TX (6.3 %)
- PA (6.1 %)
- NC (5.2 %)
- CA (4.8 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 3,123 |
| 1890-1900 | 2,822 |
| 1900-1910 | 3,104 |
| 1910-1920 | 13,304 |
| 1920-1930 | 21,785 |
| 1930-1940 | 19,906 |
| 1940-1950 | 20,763 |
| 1950-1960 | 14,247 |
| 1960-1970 | 7,784 |
| 1970-1980 | 3,908 |
| 1980-1990 | 2,412 |
| 1990-2000 | 1,655 |
| 2000-2010 | 1,514 |
| 2010-2019 | 5,499 |
| 2020-2029 | 6,099 |
Famous people named Harvey
- Harvey Keitel: Actor
- Harvey Milk: Politician, Activist
- Harvey Fierstein: Actor, Playwright
Nicknames
Harv, Harve
Fun facts
- The name stems from the Breton words haer (battle) and viu (worthy), brought to Britain during the Norman Conquest.
- Saint Hervé was legendary for his deep faith and for taming a wolf that had killed his plow donkey.