Harvey is a name of English origin that has been used for both boys and girls in recent years. It is derived from the Old Norse given name "Haraldr," which consists of two elements: "hár" meaning "army" or "warrior," and "fridr" meaning "peace." Therefore, the name Harvey means "bearer of peace."
The name Haraldr was popular among the Vikings, and it is believed that several kings in Scandinavia had this name. One of the most famous bearers of this name was King Harald Bluetooth, who ruled over Denmark around the year 1000 AD. He is known for unifying Denmark and introducing Christianity to the country.
In the Middle Ages, Harvey became a popular given name among the nobility in England. It was often used as a surname as well, with many families adopting it as their family name. Over time, Harvey has become more commonly associated with English-speaking countries like the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
Harvey is also known for being the name of several notable individuals throughout history. For instance, William Harvey was an English physician who discovered the circulation of blood in the human body in the 17th century. Additionally, Harvey Weinstein was a powerful film producer and co-founder of Miramax Films before becoming notorious for sexual misconduct allegations in the late 2010s.
Today, Harvey continues to be used as a given name for both boys and girls, with its popularity fluctuating over time. According to data from the Social Security Administration in the United States, Harvey was more popular during the mid-20th century but has seen a resurgence in recent years. In 2020, it ranked #648 for boys and #789 for girls.
In summary, Harvey is an English name with Old Norse origins that means "bearer of peace." It has been used by several notable individuals throughout history and continues to be popular as a given name today.
Based on the statistics provided, the name Harvey has seen varying levels of popularity in the United States over the years. The earliest record shows that there were 5 babies named Harvey born in 1881, and this number remained relatively stable for several decades.
In the early 20th century, there was a noticeable increase in the number of babies named Harvey, with peaks of 26 births in 1918 and 39 births in both 1921 and 1923. This suggests that Harvey was quite popular during this period.
However, from the 1940s onwards, there was a consistent decline in the number of babies named Harvey. The highest figure recorded after World War II was 38 births in 1928, but this number steadily decreased over time, reaching as low as 5 births in both 1962 and 2023.
Despite this decline in popularity, it's important to note that the name Harvey has maintained a consistent presence throughout American history. From 1881 to 2023, there have been a total of 973 babies named Harvey born in the United States.
In conclusion, while Harvey has experienced fluctuations in popularity over time, it remains a classic and enduring name choice for parents in the United States.