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Name Lineage

    The first name Harley

    A unisex name from English meaning “rock”, “hare”, “wood”.

    Pronounced /ˈhɑɹli/ 2 syllables Unisex Also a surname

    Meaning and origin

    English origin

    Harley means “rock”, “hare”, “wood” in English.

    From Old English hær (“rock”) or hara (“hare”) + lēah (“wood, clearing”). Equivalent to hare + -ley (“lea”).

    More names that mean forest, mountain.

    From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

    Popularity

    Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

    In 2025, 366 boys were named Harley, making it the 145th most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 2012, with 1,543 births (#46).

    01,0002,000 1996200020052010201520202025
    GirlsBoys
    25,857
    babies named Harley, 1996–2025
    #145
    rank in 2025
    2012
    peak year

    Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Harley with other names.

    Popularity in the United States

    Babies named Harley at birth, 1880–2025

    In 2025, 748 girls born in the United States were named Harley, the 418th most popular girls’ name that year. It was used most in 2017, when 1,532 were.

    01,0002,000 188018851890189519001905191019151920192519301935194019451950195519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025
    GirlsBoys
    71,872
    babies named Harley since 1880
    #418
    rank in 2025
    2017
    peak year

    US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.

    Nicknames and spellings

    Other spellings and forms

    • Hurley

    Famous people named Harley

    16 on Wikidata, most written-about first

    • Harley Jane Kozak
      American actress and writer, born 1957
    • Harley Quinn Smith
      American actress and musician, born 1999
    • Harley Race
      American professional wrestler, promoter and trainer (1943–2019)
    • Harley Earl
      American designer (1893-1969)
    • Harley Granville-Barker
      British actor and playwright (1877–1946)
    • Harley Cokeliss
      Director (born 1945)
    • Harley Rouda
      American politician, born 1961
    • Harley Cross
      American actor, born 1978
    • Harley M. Kilgore
      American politician (1893-1956)
    • Harley Bird
      British actress, born 2001
    • Harley Flanagan
      American musician, born 1967
    • Harley Jessup
      American production designer and visual effects artist, born 1954

    More English unisex names

    All 216 names of English origin

    Questions

    What does the name Harley mean?
    Harley means “rock”, “hare”, “wood” in English.
    What is the origin of the name Harley?
    From Old English hær (“rock”) or hara (“hare”) + lēah (“wood, clearing”). Equivalent to hare + -ley (“lea”).
    How popular is the name Harley?
    In 2025, 366 boys born in England and Wales were named Harley, ranking 145th. Its peak was 2012, with 1,543 births.
    Is Harley a boy's or a girl's name?
    Both. Of the 71,872 US babies named Harley since 1880, 43% were girls and 57% boys.
    When was Harley most popular?
    2017 in the United States, when 1,532 babies were named Harley, its highest rank at 202nd.
    How do you pronounce Harley?
    Harley is /ˈhɑɹli/, 2 syllables.
    What are other spellings of Harley?
    Hurley.
    Is Harley also a surname?
    Yes. Harley is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.