Harlem
How to say it: HAR-lum · /ˈhɑrləm/
From the NYC neighborhood; originally from Dutch city Haarlem, meaning 'home on a wooded hill'. A bold place-name choice.
Harlem was the 863rd most popular boys’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 383 babies of either sex (Social Security Administration). The 2020s are its busiest decade so far, its births are up about 48% in ten years, and it is projected to rise to #841 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among boys’ names, 2025 | #863 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 (both sexes) | 383 |
| Share of births | 1 in 6,965 |
| Peak decade | 2020s |
| Change over 10 years | +48% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #841 |
| In France, 2025 | #2,436 among boys’ names, 5 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Harlem owes nearly all its use to the last forty years and now stands at its 2020s peak. Continued ascent is predicted.
What goes with it
Broad and resonant, Harlem sounds strong and creative with a clear place name quality. Brooklyn pairs easily with it.
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Harlem is about under 1 in 200.
Around the world
This spelling is used in Dutch, English, French.
In France: #2,436 for boys in 2025.
Famous people named Harlem
- Harlem Désir (born 1959)French politician
- Harlem Gnohéré (born 1988)French footballer
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
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