Harvey is a name of English origin that has been used for both boys and girls throughout history. It is derived from the Old German name Hariberht, which consists of two elements: "hari" meaning "army" or "warrior," and "berht" meaning "bright" or "famous." Therefore, Harvey's meaning can be interpreted as "bright army" or "famous warrior."
The name Harvey has been popular throughout different eras in history. It was first used by the Anglo-Saxons, who introduced it to England during their invasions in the mid-first millennium AD. Some notable figures bearing this name include Sir Robert Harvey, a 16th-century English explorer and privateer, and Harvey Smith, an Australian rules footballer who played for Essendon and Collingwood from 1954 to 1972.
Today, Harvey remains a popular choice for parents looking for a strong yet approachable name for their children. Its meaning and history make it appealing as both a first and middle name, suitable for boys and girls alike. Despite its once-great popularity, Harvey still feels unique and distinctive, making it an attractive option for those seeking to give their child a memorable moniker with deep historical roots.
Harvey is a name that has seen its popularity rise and fall over the years in the United States. The earliest record of this name being given to newborns dates back to 1897, with a total of five births recorded that year.
The number of babies named Harvey fluctuated throughout the early to mid-20th century. In some years, such as 1912 and 1913, there were only seven or five births respectively. However, there were also periods where the name became more popular, with peaks in 1916 (16 births), 1918 (20 births), and 1924 (23 births).
After World War II, the number of newborns named Harvey started to decline steadily. Between 1950 and 1972, there were fewer than ten births each year with this name. It wasn't until the late 1970s that we saw another small increase in popularity, with five births recorded both in 1977 and 2013.
Interestingly, since 2015, there has been a resurgence of the name Harvey among parents choosing names for their newborns. In recent years, the number of babies named Harvey has steadily increased: from eight in 2015 to nineteen in 2017, ten in 2018, twelve in 2019, sixteen in 2020, twenty in 2021, and a significant jump to twenty-six births in 2023.
In total, over the period from 1897 to 2023, there have been 822 newborns named Harvey in the United States. This data demonstrates how a name's popularity can change over time, with periods of trendiness followed by decades of relative obscurity before potentially experiencing a revival once more.