Skip to content
Name Lineage

    The first name Harlow

    A unisex name from English meaning “rock”, “army”, “hill”.

    Pronounced /ˈhɑɹ.loʊ/ 2 syllables Unisex Also a surname

    Meaning and origin

    English origin

    Harlow means “rock”, “army”, “hill” in English.

    From Old English hær (“rock”) or here (“army”) + hlæw (“hill”).

    More names that mean mountain, warrior.

    From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

    Popularity

    Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

    In 2025, 133 girls were named Harlow, making it the 325th most popular girls’ name. It peaked in 2021, with 354 births (#142).

    0200400 1996200020052010201520202025
    GirlsBoys
    3,568
    babies named Harlow, 1996–2025
    #325
    rank in 2025
    2021
    peak year

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

    Popularity in the United States

    Babies named Harlow at birth, 1880–2025

    In 2025, 981 girls born in the United States were named Harlow, the 309th most popular girls’ name that year. It was used most in 2021, when 1,278 were.

    01,0002,000 188018851890189519001905191019151920192519301935194019451950195519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025
    GirlsBoys
    16,655
    babies named Harlow since 1880
    #309
    rank in 2025
    2021
    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.

    Famous people named Harlow

    3 on Wikidata, most written-about first

    • Jean Harlow
      American film actress (1911–1937)
    • Harlow Shapley
      American astronomer (1885-1972)
    • Harlow Rothert
      American shot putter (1908-1997)

    More English unisex names

    All 216 names of English origin

    Questions

    What does the name Harlow mean?
    Harlow means “rock”, “army”, “hill” in English.
    What is the origin of the name Harlow?
    From Old English hær (“rock”) or here (“army”) + hlæw (“hill”).
    How popular is the name Harlow?
    In 2025, 133 girls born in England and Wales were named Harlow, ranking 325th. Its peak was 2021, with 354 births.
    Is Harlow a boy's or a girl's name?
    Both. Of the 16,655 US babies named Harlow since 1880, 84% were girls and 16% boys.
    When was Harlow most popular?
    2021 in the United States, when 1,278 babies were named Harlow, its highest rank at 237th.
    How do you pronounce Harlow?
    Harlow is /ˈhɑɹ.loʊ/, 2 syllables.
    Is Harlow also a surname?
    Yes. Harlow is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.