Boy’s name · English

Harlen

How to say it: HAR-len · /ˈhɑrlən/

Old English 'hare meadow, army land' - modern variant of Harlan surname-name.

Harlen was the 554th most popular boys’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 59 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 1930s, its births are up about 52% in ten years, and it is projected to rise to #465 by 2030.

Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures

#554for boys in 2025
1 in 6,462US babies
59born in 2025
#465projected for 2030
1930sits peak decade
under 1 in 200chance a classmate shares it

Key facts

Key facts about Harlen
Rank among boys’ names, 2025#554
Babies born in 202559
Share of births1 in 6,462
Peak decade1930s
Change over 10 years+52%
Projected rank for 2030 (estimate)#465
In France, 2025#2,436 among boys’ names, 0 births

Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.

Its life, decade by decade

Harlen peaked in the 1930s, nearly vanished by the 1980s, and has come back.

1900195020002020–25
Peak: 49 per million births, 1930s.

What goes with it

Nicknames

  • Harl
  • Harley
  • Len

Honouring a Harlen in the family

In the classroom

In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Harlen is about under 1 in 200.

Around the world

This spelling is used in English.

In France: #2,436 for boys in 2025.

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