Harlow
Girl name · #309 in 2025 · Distinctive
How old is the name Harlow? In official American birth records, Harlow has been tracked continuously since 2002, giving it 23 years of documented American history.
Harlow ranks #309 among American girls' names as of 2025, with 981 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #422, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 1,835 girls born in 2025 was named Harlow.
Babies named Harlow per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 23-year story
Harlow first appears in the Social Security records in 2002, when 6 girls received the name. Its peak came in 2021, when 1,278 girls were named Harlow — good for #237 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Harlow against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Harlow in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Harlow is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "distinctive". That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Harlow is most common
Geography matters for names, and Harlow is no exception. Adjusted for how many girls are born in each state, Harlow is most common in SD (3.6 per 1,000), WV (2 per 1,000), ID (1.8 per 1,000), NE (1.7 per 1,000), OR (1.6 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.8 per 1,000 girls. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Harlow is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Harlow
Statistically, parents drawn to Harlow tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Marlow, Meadow, Milani, Lilith, and Kamila.
MarlowMeadowMilaniLilithKamilaSawyerAriyahBlake
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Harlow | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 981 | #309 |
| 2024 | 1,083 | #293 |
| 2023 | 1,273 | #238 |
| 2022 | 1,199 | #263 |
| 2021 | 1,278 | #237 |
| 2020 | 959 | #324 |
| 2019 | 1,009 | #316 |
| 2018 | 863 | #366 |
| 2017 | 798 | #390 |
| 2016 | 786 | #420 |
| 2015 | 759 | #422 |
| 2014 | 611 | #509 |
| 2013 | 545 | #546 |
| 2012 | 507 | #579 |
| 2011 | 465 | #623 |
| 2010 | 354 | #776 |
| 2009 | 301 | #904 |
| 2008 | 133 | #1677 |
| 2007 | 28 | #5097 |
| 2006 | 15 | #7868 |
| 2005 | 11 | #9452 |
| 2004 | 12 | #8716 |
| 2003 | 10 | #9671 |
| 2002 | 6 | #13595 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Harlow?
In official American birth records, the name Harlow first appeared in 2002 (over 23 years ago), when 6 newborn girls received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 23 years.
Is Harlow a popular girl name?
Harlow ranked #309 among girls in 2025 with 981 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #422.
When was the name Harlow most popular?
Harlow peaked in 2021, when 1,278 American girls received the name (ranked #237 that year). Since 2021 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Harlow?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 1,835 newborn American girls was named Harlow. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "distinctive".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.