Harper
Boy name · #1976 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Harper? In official American birth records, Harper has been tracked continuously since 1881, giving it 144 years of documented American history.
Harper is currently the #1976 boy name in the United States — 77 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #722, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 23,377 boys born in 2025 was named Harper.
Babies named Harper per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 144-year story
Harper first appears in the Social Security records in 1881, when 9 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2012, when 416 boys were named Harper — good for #606 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 Harper against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Harper in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Harper is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Harper will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Harper is most common
State-level data for Harper is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Harper
Statistically, parents drawn to Harper tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Keller, Kooper, Fischer, Zyler, and Xzavier.
KellerKooperFischerZylerXzavierRhyderOlivierStryker
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Harper | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 77 | #1976 |
| 2024 | 92 | #1776 |
| 2023 | 127 | #1432 |
| 2022 | 139 | #1347 |
| 2021 | 149 | #1273 |
| 2020 | 149 | #1245 |
| 2019 | 202 | #1028 |
| 2018 | 214 | #970 |
| 2017 | 286 | #798 |
| 2016 | 299 | #791 |
| 2015 | 341 | #722 |
| 2014 | 328 | #730 |
| 2013 | 366 | #661 |
| 2012 | 416 | #606 |
| 2011 | 402 | #607 |
| 2010 | 341 | #689 |
| 2009 | 316 | #737 |
| 2008 | 248 | #855 |
| 2007 | 231 | #879 |
| 2006 | 195 | #954 |
| 2005 | 139 | #1150 |
| 2004 | 77 | #1671 |
| 2003 | 72 | #1702 |
| 2002 | 73 | #1636 |
| 2001 | 58 | #1893 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Harper?
In official American birth records, the name Harper first appeared in 1881 (over 144 years ago), when 9 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Harper a popular boy name?
Harper ranked #1976 among boys in 2025 with 77 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #722.
When was the name Harper most popular?
Harper peaked in 2012, when 416 American boys received the name (ranked #606 that year). Since 2012 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Harper?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 23,377 newborn American boys was named Harper. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.