Fun Facts About the Name Harper
- A newer favorite: Harper first entered the U.S. top 100 in 2011 and stayed there through 2025 - a run of 15 consecutive years.
- More than 145 thousand babies named Harper: U.S. records list 145,775 babies given the name Harper from 1880 through 2025. Even 6,769 boys received the name Harper - about 1 boy for every 21 girls.
What Does the Name Harper Mean?
Harper is an English occupational name meaning "harp player" or "harpist." It comes from Middle English harper, which descends from Old English hearpere, an agent noun formed from hearpe, "harp." The literal sense is someone who plays the harp. As a given name, Harper is a transferred use of the surname rather than a separate word with a different meaning.
Harper Name History & Origins
The name Harper began as an English surname. It belongs to the class of occupational surnames that became hereditary in England during the later Middle Ages. A person called Harper was likely a musician - someone who played the harp in a noble household, in a town band, or as a traveling entertainer. Medieval records use forms such as Harper and Harpur, the latter a variant spelling.
As a first name, Harper is a transferred use of the surname. It is used in the English-speaking world as a given name, and the writer Harper Lee, born Nelle Harper Lee, is a well-known bearer; she used her middle name, a family surname, as her professional first name. Her example shows the surname-to-given-name pattern, but the name's origin is the medieval occupational surname, not a modern literary invention.
In contemporary use, Harper is given to both boys and girls. The name's core association remains the medieval musician's occupation recorded in the surname.
How Popular is the Name Harper?
Harper recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 2016. Harper entered the top 100 U.S. girl names in 2011.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #16 | 6,792 | 0.4226% |
| 2024 | #12 | 7,370 | 0.4569% |
| 2023 | #11 | 7,792 | 0.4862% |
| 2022 | #11 | 8,223 | 0.5018% |
| 2021 | #10 | 8,441 | 0.5148% |
| 2020 | #10 | 8,848 | 0.5477% |
| 2019 | #9 | 10,494 | 0.6255% |
| 2018 | #9 | 10,644 | 0.6260% |
| 2017 | #11 | 10,521 | 0.6096% |
| 2016 | #11 | 10,802 | 0.6098% |
| 2015 | #10 | 10,310 | 0.5777% |
| 2014 | #11 | 9,616 | 0.5384% |
| 2013 | #16 | 8,284 | 0.4722% |
| 2012 | #24 | 7,199 | 0.4089% |
| 2011 | #54 | 4,676 | 0.2659% |
| 2010 | #120 | 2,634 | 0.1482% |
| 2009 | #173 | 1,903 | 0.1036% |
| 2008 | #296 | 1,128 | 0.0597% |
| 2007 | #440 | 729 | 0.0379% |
| 2006 | #510 | 597 | 0.0314% |
| 2005 | #743 | 363 | 0.0196% |
| 2004 | #887 | 274 | 0.0149% |
| 2003 | #1,103 | 200 | 0.0109% |
| 2002 | #1,225 | 164 | 0.0091% |
| 2001 | #1,172 | 176 | 0.0098% |
| 2000 | #1,370 | 136 | 0.0075% |
| 1999 | #1,527 | 112 | 0.0063% |
| 1998 | #1,715 | 93 | 0.0053% |
| 1997 | #1,759 | 86 | 0.0049% |
| 1996 | #1,504 | 107 | 0.0061% |
| 1995 | #2,432 | 53 | 0.0030% |
| 1994 | #3,320 | 34 | 0.0019% |
| 1993 | #4,437 | 23 | 0.0013% |
| 1992 | #4,742 | 21 | 0.0011% |
| 1991 | #4,550 | 22 | 0.0012% |
| 1990 | #7,028 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1989 | #7,141 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1988 | #6,406 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1987 | #8,258 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1986 | #7,994 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1985 | #5,462 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 1984 | #10,996 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1983 | #10,840 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1982 | #8,543 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1981 | #7,641 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1980 | #9,493 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1978 | #6,581 | 9 | 0.0006% |
| 1977 | #10,156 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1976 | #6,228 | 9 | 0.0006% |
| 1975 | #7,428 | 7 | 0.0005% |
| 1974 | #5,925 | 9 | 0.0006% |
| 1971 | #8,771 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #1,980 | 77 | 0.0045% |
| 2024 | #1,791 | 91 | 0.0053% |
| 2023 | #1,434 | 127 | 0.0074% |
| 2022 | #1,347 | 139 | 0.0080% |
| 2021 | #1,275 | 149 | 0.0085% |
| 2020 | #1,246 | 149 | 0.0086% |
| 2019 | #1,029 | 202 | 0.0113% |
| 2018 | #973 | 214 | 0.0118% |
| 2017 | #801 | 286 | 0.0155% |
| 2016 | #791 | 299 | 0.0158% |
| 2015 | #724 | 341 | 0.0178% |
| 2014 | #730 | 328 | 0.0171% |
| 2013 | #662 | 366 | 0.0194% |
| 2012 | #606 | 416 | 0.0219% |
| 2011 | #607 | 402 | 0.0212% |
| 2010 | #689 | 341 | 0.0178% |
| 2009 | #737 | 316 | 0.0159% |
| 2008 | #856 | 248 | 0.0122% |
| 2007 | #879 | 231 | 0.0111% |
| 2006 | #955 | 195 | 0.0095% |
| 2005 | #1,153 | 139 | 0.0070% |
| 2004 | #1,679 | 77 | 0.0039% |
| 2003 | #1,705 | 72 | 0.0036% |
| 2002 | #1,639 | 73 | 0.0038% |
| 2001 | #1,899 | 58 | 0.0030% |
| 2000 | #2,153 | 47 | 0.0024% |
| 1999 | #2,147 | 44 | 0.0023% |
| 1998 | #2,289 | 39 | 0.0020% |
| 1997 | #2,699 | 29 | 0.0015% |
| 1996 | #2,160 | 39 | 0.0021% |
| 1995 | #3,477 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 1994 | #5,219 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1993 | #4,323 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1992 | #3,664 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1991 | #4,087 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1990 | #4,801 | 11 | 0.0005% |
| 1989 | #4,371 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1988 | #4,282 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1987 | #6,403 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1986 | #5,044 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1985 | #3,482 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1984 | #4,714 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1983 | #3,978 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1982 | #4,364 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1981 | #4,689 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1980 | #3,953 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1979 | #6,424 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1978 | #3,973 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1977 | #3,960 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1976 | #4,161 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1975 | #4,503 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1974 | #5,517 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1973 | #3,301 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1972 | #3,762 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1971 | #2,316 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 1970 | #2,789 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1969 | #3,164 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1968 | #2,375 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1967 | #4,208 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1966 | #3,088 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1965 | #3,373 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1964 | #3,413 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1963 | #3,796 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1961 | #3,489 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 1960 | #3,814 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1959 | #2,240 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1958 | #3,388 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 1957 | #3,732 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1956 | #1,968 | 17 | 0.0008% |
| 1955 | #2,653 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1954 | #2,832 | 9 | 0.0004% |
| 1953 | #4,037 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1952 | #2,197 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1951 | #2,297 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1950 | #2,260 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1949 | #2,394 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1948 | #1,908 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1947 | #2,299 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1946 | #2,607 | 9 | 0.0006% |
| 1945 | #2,649 | 8 | 0.0006% |
| 1944 | #1,844 | 15 | 0.0011% |
| 1943 | #3,070 | 7 | 0.0005% |
| 1942 | #1,988 | 14 | 0.0010% |
| 1941 | #2,037 | 13 | 0.0011% |
| 1940 | #2,386 | 10 | 0.0009% |
| 1939 | #1,829 | 15 | 0.0014% |
| 1938 | #1,640 | 18 | 0.0016% |
| 1937 | #2,132 | 12 | 0.0011% |
| 1936 | #2,115 | 12 | 0.0012% |
| 1935 | #2,179 | 12 | 0.0012% |
| 1934 | #1,887 | 15 | 0.0015% |
| 1933 | #2,279 | 11 | 0.0011% |
| 1932 | #1,877 | 16 | 0.0015% |
| 1931 | #2,383 | 11 | 0.0011% |
| 1930 | #1,617 | 21 | 0.0019% |
| 1929 | #1,959 | 16 | 0.0015% |
| 1928 | #1,862 | 18 | 0.0016% |
| 1927 | #1,668 | 22 | 0.0020% |
| 1926 | #1,536 | 24 | 0.0022% |
| 1925 | #1,705 | 21 | 0.0019% |
| 1924 | #1,392 | 29 | 0.0026% |
| 1923 | #2,383 | 13 | 0.0012% |
| 1922 | #1,320 | 31 | 0.0028% |
| 1921 | #1,611 | 23 | 0.0021% |
| 1920 | #1,402 | 28 | 0.0026% |
| 1919 | #2,013 | 16 | 0.0016% |
| 1918 | #1,944 | 17 | 0.0017% |
| 1917 | #1,611 | 21 | 0.0023% |
| 1916 | #1,802 | 17 | 0.0019% |
| 1915 | #1,284 | 27 | 0.0032% |
| 1914 | #1,360 | 20 | 0.0031% |
| 1913 | #1,341 | 16 | 0.0031% |
| 1912 | #1,116 | 18 | 0.0042% |
| 1910 | #1,489 | 6 | 0.0031% |
| 1908 | #1,288 | 6 | 0.0039% |
| 1907 | #1,424 | 5 | 0.0034% |
| 1906 | #779 | 11 | 0.0083% |
| 1905 | #683 | 13 | 0.0098% |
| 1900 | #1,095 | 7 | 0.0047% |
| 1899 | #817 | 8 | 0.0075% |
| 1898 | #929 | 7 | 0.0057% |
| 1897 | #996 | 6 | 0.0053% |
| 1896 | #1,038 | 6 | 0.0050% |
| 1895 | #622 | 12 | 0.0102% |
| 1892 | #1,147 | 5 | 0.0041% |
| 1891 | #898 | 6 | 0.0059% |
| 1890 | #934 | 6 | 0.0054% |
| 1888 | #1,100 | 5 | 0.0041% |
| 1886 | #798 | 7 | 0.0063% |
| 1885 | #667 | 9 | 0.0083% |
| 1884 | #809 | 7 | 0.0061% |
| 1883 | #614 | 10 | 0.0096% |
| 1882 | #1,003 | 5 | 0.0044% |
| 1881 | #623 | 9 | 0.0089% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Explore Name Lists Featuring Harper
Carl appears in several baby name collections based on U.S. popularity records, naming trends, and name characteristics. Explore these lists to discover other names with similar histories, styles, or features.
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How the Name Harper Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You attract success and money. You are a lover of nature and do not need others for your happiness. You are self sufficient. You strive for material success and power and have business sense. You possess strong organizational abilities, can be a good manager, and executive by nature. You are capable of great achievement in business and finance. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.
Creative and outgoing, you are always looking for an opportunity to show your abilities, especially before audience. You are very flexible and like to feel appreciated. You are looking for chances to mix with others socially and to communicate your ideas. You like to talk and can easily relate to different cultures and concepts. The biggest challenge for you is uncertainty. Easily getting bored, you can move from one job to another, switch projects and lovers. The high creative force can lead you either to happiness or unhappiness. If you understand your goals, if you can make major decisions in life and follow it directly and straight up without worry and uncertainty, you are able to achieve great heights.
✦ Harper's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Harper's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.