Harvey
Boy name · #252 in 2025 · Well-known
How old is the name Harvey? In official American birth records, Harvey has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 1,381 baby boys were named Harvey, placing it at #252 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #439, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 1,303 boys born in 2025 was named Harvey.
The 145-year story
Harvey first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 344 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1921, when 2,287 boys were named Harvey — good for #87 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. 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 Harvey per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Harvey against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Harvey in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Harvey is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "well-known". A low score means broad familiarity: teachers will spell it right, and your child may share it with a classmate. For many families that's a feature, not a bug.
Where Harvey is most common
Geography matters for names, and Harvey is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Harvey is most common in ND (4.2 per 1,000), MN (3.6 per 1,000), SD (3.4 per 1,000), ID (3 per 1,000), UT (2.9 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.9 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Harvey is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Harvey
Statistically, parents drawn to Harvey tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Warren, Harlan, Hollis, Charlie, and Leon.
WarrenHarlanHollisCharlieLeonLouisWalterCalvin
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Harvey | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,381 | #251 |
| 2024 | 1,446 | #245 |
| 2023 | 1,028 | #326 |
| 2022 | 797 | #402 |
| 2021 | 733 | #421 |
| 2020 | 714 | #416 |
| 2019 | 773 | #403 |
| 2018 | 683 | #443 |
| 2017 | 856 | #383 |
| 2016 | 778 | #412 |
| 2015 | 697 | #439 |
| 2014 | 578 | #486 |
| 2013 | 406 | #614 |
| 2012 | 288 | #786 |
| 2011 | 251 | #849 |
| 2010 | 189 | #1023 |
| 2009 | 181 | #1049 |
| 2008 | 145 | #1211 |
| 2007 | 153 | #1157 |
| 2006 | 143 | #1178 |
| 2005 | 162 | #1035 |
| 2004 | 156 | #1043 |
| 2003 | 139 | #1103 |
| 2002 | 139 | #1079 |
| 2001 | 134 | #1073 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Harvey?
In official American birth records, the name Harvey first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 344 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Harvey a popular boy name?
Harvey ranked #252 among boys in 2025 with 1,381 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #439.
When was the name Harvey most popular?
Harvey peaked in 1921, when 2,287 American boys received the name (ranked #87 that year). Since 1921 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Harvey?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 1,303 newborn American boys was named Harvey. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "well-known".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.