The first name Harvard
A boy’s name from English.
Pronounced /ˈhɑɹvəɹd/ 2 syllables Male Also a surname
Meaning and origin
English origin
A variant of Harward reflecting the merger of /v/ and /w/ in the dialects of southeastern England; thus from Middle English Herward, Herreward, itself from Old English Hereweard and a doublet of Harward and Hereward. Compare German Herwarth.
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Harvard at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 10 boys born in the United States were named Harvard, the 7,865th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 1915, when 27 were.
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.
Harvard in other languages
Equivalent forms of the name, from Wiktionary
Spelled Harvard in French, Portuguese and Vietnamese too.
More English boys’ names
Questions
- What does the name Harvard mean?
- A variant of Harward reflecting the merger of /v/ and /w/ in the dialects of southeastern England; thus from Middle English Herward, Herreward, itself from Old English Hereweard and a doublet of Harward and Hereward. Compare German Herwarth.
- What is the origin of the name Harvard?
- A variant of Harward reflecting the merger of /v/ and /w/ in the dialects of southeastern England; thus from Middle English Herward, Herreward, itself from Old English Hereweard and a doublet of Harward and Hereward. Compare German Herwarth.
- Is Harvard a boy's or a girl's name?
- Mostly a boy's name: 100% of the 614 US babies named Harvard since 1880 were boys.
- When was Harvard most popular?
- 1915 in the United States, when 27 babies were named Harvard, its highest rank at 1,285th.
- How do you pronounce Harvard?
- Harvard is /ˈhɑɹvəɹd/, 2 syllables.
- Is Harvard also a surname?
- Yes. Harvard is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.