Is Harlem a boy or girl name?
Harlem is used for both boys and girls in close to equal numbers in the US. In 2024, 177 girls and 220 boys were named Harlem, so 44.6% were girls. Across 1880–2024, 33.3% of the 4,795 US babies named Harlem were girls.
- Boy rank, 2024
- #1,012
- Girl rank, 2024
- #1,298
- Babies named Harlem since 1975
- 4,795
- Most popular year
- 2023
- 408 babies
Boys and girls named Harlem, by decade
| Decade | Boys | Girls | Share girls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 5 | 0 | 0% |
| 1980s | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1990s | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2000s | 337 | 94 | 21.8% |
| 2010s | 1,658 | 743 | 30.9% |
| 2020s | 1,199 | 759 | 38.8% |
Every year
| Year | Boys | Boy rank | Girls | Girl rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 220 | #1,012 | 177 | #1,298 |
| 2023 | 254 | #911 | 154 | #1,444 |
| 2022 | 237 | #957 | 129 | #1,638 |
| 2021 | 240 | #944 | 141 | #1,501 |
| 2020 | 248 | #905 | 158 | #1,376 |
| 2019 | 242 | #909 | 133 | #1,599 |
| 2018 | 210 | #989 | 100 | #1,971 |
| 2017 | 176 | #1,105 | 101 | #1,966 |
| 2016 | 184 | #1,074 | 93 | #2,098 |
| 2015 | 203 | #1,007 | 89 | #2,142 |
| 2014 | 197 | #1,030 | 70 | #2,544 |
| 2013 | 160 | #1,136 | 55 | #3,021 |
| 2012 | 95 | #1,628 | 43 | #3,667 |
| 2011 | 88 | #1,693 | 28 | #4,971 |
| 2010 | 103 | #1,553 | 31 | #4,652 |
| 2009 | 86 | #1,765 | 40 | #3,900 |
| 2008 | 71 | #1,989 | 17 | #7,530 |
| 2007 | 51 | #2,486 | 14 | #8,697 |
| 2006 | 53 | #2,359 | 7 | #14,106 |
| 2005 | 33 | #3,112 | 0 | – |
| 2004 | 20 | #4,317 | 5 | #17,059 |
| 2003 | 11 | #6,411 | 6 | #14,510 |
| 2002 | 7 | #8,788 | 0 | – |
| 2001 | 0 | – | 0 | – |
| 2000 | 5 | #11,007 | 5 | #15,924 |
| 1999 | 0 | – | 0 | – |
| 1998 | 0 | – | 0 | – |
| 1997 | 0 | – | 0 | – |
| 1996 | 0 | – | 0 | – |
| 1995 | 0 | – | 0 | – |
| 1994 | 0 | – | 0 | – |
| 1993 | 0 | – | 0 | – |
| 1992 | 0 | – | 0 | – |
| 1991 | 0 | – | 0 | – |
| 1990 | 0 | – | 0 | – |
| 1989 | 0 | – | 0 | – |
| 1988 | 0 | – | 0 | – |
| 1987 | 0 | – | 0 | – |
| 1986 | 0 | – | 0 | – |
| 1985 | 0 | – | 0 | – |
| 1984 | 0 | – | 0 | – |
| 1983 | 0 | – | 0 | – |
| 1982 | 0 | – | 0 | – |
| 1981 | 0 | – | 0 | – |
| 1980 | 0 | – | 0 | – |
| 1979 | 0 | – | 0 | – |
| 1978 | 0 | – | 0 | – |
| 1977 | 0 | – | 0 | – |
| 1976 | 0 | – | 0 | – |
| 1975 | 5 | #5,791 | 0 | – |
Highest rank
As a boy name, Harlem reached #905 in 2020. As a girl name, it reached #1,298 in 2024. Ranks count every name SSA published for that year and sex, so they go well past the top 1,000.
Names from the same era
These names were also most popular in the 2020s, with a similar number of babies. They can work as sibling or middle names that feel like they belong together.
Names spelled like Harlem
Source: US Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880–2024. Counts are Social Security card applications for US births; SSA leaves out names given to fewer than 5 babies in a year. Updated 2026-10-05. How these numbers are made.