Harlan is a name of American origin and meaning. It comes from the English surname Harland or Harlond, which are derived from Old Germanic elements. The first element of these names is "heri," meaning "army" or "war," while the second element is "-land," meaning "land." Therefore, the name Harlan means "land of an army."
The name Harlan has a long history in American culture. It was brought to America by English settlers and became popular in the United States during the 19th century. Today, it is still considered a distinctively American name.
Some notable people with the name Harlan include Harlan Fiske Stone (1872-1946), who served as Chief Justice of the United States from 1941 to 1946, and Harlan Ellison (1934-2018), a renowned science fiction writer known for his short stories and essays.
The name Harlan has been given to a total of 25,612 babies in the United States since 1880, according to the Social Security Administration's data on popular baby names.
From 1880 to 1933, the number of births with the name Harlan varied from year to year, ranging from a low of 5 births in 1883 to a high of 519 births in 1924. However, starting in 1934, there was a steady decline in the popularity of the name Harlan.
Between 1934 and 1963, the number of births with the name Harlan hovered around the 300 to 400 range, but it began to drop significantly in the late 1960s. In 1974, there were only 72 births with the name Harlan, and this downward trend continued throughout the 1980s and 1990s.
In recent years, however, there has been a slight resurgence in the popularity of the name Harlan. Between 2000 and 2023, the number of births with the name Harlan ranged from a low of 46 births in 2015 to a high of 432 births in 2021.
Overall, while the name Harlan may not be as popular as it once was, it remains a distinctive and memorable choice for parents looking for a unique name for their child.