Harlem
Boy name · #971 in 2025 · Uniqueness 64/100
In 2025, 236 baby boys were named Harlem, placing it at #971 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #1006, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 7,627 boys born in 2025 was named Harlem.
The 50-year story
Harlem first appears in the Social Security records in 1975, when 5 boys received the name. Its all-time peak is essentially right now: 2023, with 254 babies and a rank of #911. Names at their peak can keep climbing — or be one trend cycle from the long slide that eventually hits most popular names. The shape of the curve is what tells you whether Harlem will feel fresh or everywhere by the time your child starts school.
Babies named Harlem per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Harlem against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Harlem in class?
Harlem scores 64 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Harlem is most common
Geography matters for names, and Harlem is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Harlems were GA (23), NC (21), CA (20), TX (20), MI (12). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Harlem
Statistically, parents drawn to Harlem tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Salem, Shulem, Henrik, Arham, and Hashem.
SalemShulemHenrikArhamHashemDenimLyamHuxley
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Harlem | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 236 | #970 |
| 2024 | 220 | #1013 |
| 2023 | 254 | #911 |
| 2022 | 237 | #956 |
| 2021 | 240 | #943 |
| 2020 | 248 | #905 |
| 2019 | 242 | #908 |
| 2018 | 210 | #984 |
| 2017 | 176 | #1104 |
| 2016 | 184 | #1073 |
| 2015 | 203 | #1006 |
| 2014 | 199 | #1022 |
| 2013 | 160 | #1135 |
| 2012 | 95 | #1626 |
| 2011 | 88 | #1687 |
| 2010 | 103 | #1552 |
| 2009 | 86 | #1762 |
| 2008 | 71 | #1981 |
| 2007 | 51 | #2473 |
| 2006 | 53 | #2348 |
| 2005 | 33 | #3091 |
| 2004 | 20 | #4264 |
| 2003 | 11 | #6258 |
| 2002 | 7 | #8456 |
| 2000 | 5 | #10349 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Harlem a popular boy name?
Harlem ranked #971 among boys in 2025 with 236 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1006.
When was the name Harlem most popular?
Harlem peaked in 2023, when 254 American boys received the name (ranked #911 that year). That peak is current — the name is at or near its all-time high right now.
How rare is the name Harlem?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 7,627 newborn American boys was named Harlem. It scores 64/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.