Harlem
Boy name · #971 in 2025 · Rare
How old is the name Harlem? In official American birth records, Harlem has been tracked continuously since 1975, giving it 50 years of documented American history.
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. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Harlem against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Harlem in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Harlem is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Harlem will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Harlem is most common
Geography matters for names, and Harlem is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Harlem is most common in LA (0.5 per 1,000), GA (0.5 per 1,000), NC (0.4 per 1,000), MI (0.3 per 1,000), NY (0.1 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.2 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Harlem is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
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
How old is the name Harlem?
In official American birth records, the name Harlem first appeared in 1975 (over 50 years ago), when 5 newborn boys received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 50 years.
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. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.