Harlow
Boy name · #1212 in 2025 · Rare
How old is the name Harlow? In official American birth records, Harlow has been tracked continuously since 1882, giving it 143 years of documented American history.
Harlow ranks #1212 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 167 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #4179, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 10,778 boys born in 2025 was named Harlow.
The 143-year story
Harlow first appears in the Social Security records in 1882, when 5 boys received the name. Its all-time peak is essentially right now: 2023, with 182 babies and a rank of #1149. Names at their peak can keep climbing — or be one trend cycle from the long slide that eventually hits most popular names. 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.
Babies named Harlow per year. Source: Official national birth records.
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 "rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Harlow will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Harlow is most common
Geography matters for names, and Harlow is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Harlow is most common in MI (0.2 per 1,000), CA (0.1 per 1,000), TX (0.1 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.1 per 1,000 boys. 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 Arlow, Winslow, Huxton, Haze, and Marlow.
ArlowWinslowHuxtonHazeMarlowRipleyHudsynJahseh
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Harlow | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 167 | #1212 |
| 2024 | 159 | #1243 |
| 2023 | 182 | #1149 |
| 2022 | 166 | #1200 |
| 2021 | 86 | #1815 |
| 2020 | 61 | #2235 |
| 2019 | 45 | #2766 |
| 2018 | 46 | #2674 |
| 2017 | 38 | #3071 |
| 2016 | 35 | #3230 |
| 2015 | 24 | #4179 |
| 2014 | 35 | #3154 |
| 2013 | 31 | #3405 |
| 2012 | 33 | #3297 |
| 2011 | 13 | #6256 |
| 2010 | 21 | #4517 |
| 2009 | 18 | #5102 |
| 2008 | 10 | #7698 |
| 2006 | 9 | #7998 |
| 2003 | 6 | #9581 |
| 1995 | 5 | #8868 |
| 1991 | 5 | #8236 |
| 1988 | 5 | #7270 |
| 1977 | 5 | #5845 |
| 1976 | 7 | #4418 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Harlow?
In official American birth records, the name Harlow first appeared in 1882 (over 143 years ago), when 5 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Harlow a popular boy name?
Harlow ranked #1212 among boys in 2025 with 167 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #4179.
When was the name Harlow most popular?
Harlow peaked in 2023, when 182 American boys received the name (ranked #1149 that year). That peak is current — the name is at or near its all-time high right now.
How rare is the name Harlow?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 10,778 newborn American boys was named Harlow. 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.