Harjap
A masculine name of Indian origin meaning "to recite praises of God".
Name Census estimates that about 11 living Americans carry the first name Harjap. It appears on both sides of the gender split, with 54.5% of registrations being male. The average person named Harjap today is around 12 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Harjap births was 2017 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Harjap. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
For a British comparison, Name Census UK has a UK baby-name profile for Harjap with official rankings and popularity over time.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Harjap. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
11
~ 1 in 31,159,485 Americans
Peak year
2017
6 babies that year
Average age
12
years old
2017 SSA rank
#11,253
Tracked since 2011
Gender
Gender distribution for Harjap
Harjap is one of the more evenly split names in the SSA data. Of the 11 total registrations, 6 (54.5%) were male and 5 (45.5%) were female.
Harjap as a male name
- Ranked #11,253 in 2017
- 6 male births in 2017
- Peak: 2017 (6 births)
Harjap as a female name
- Ranked #17,752 in 2011
- 5 female births in 2011
- Peak: 2011 (5 births)
Popularity
Harjap: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Harjap by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Harjap during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 6 | 5 | 11 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Harjap
The name Harjap has its origins in the Punjabi language, which is spoken primarily in the northern Indian state of Punjab and the eastern Pakistani province of Punjab. The name is derived from the Punjabi words "har" meaning "God" and "jap" meaning "chant" or "recitation." Historically, the name was likely given to individuals within the Sikh tradition, as the chanting or recitation of sacred hymns and prayers is an integral part of Sikhism.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Harjap can be found in the Guru Granth Sahib, the sacred scripture of Sikhism, which was compiled in the 16th and 17th centuries. The name appears in several hymns and compositions, suggesting its use among the Sikh community during that period.
In the 18th century, Harjap Singh (1700-1783) was a prominent Sikh warrior and military leader who played a crucial role in the struggle against the Afghan invaders and the Mughal Empire. He is revered for his bravery and leadership in defending the Sikh faith and community.
Another notable figure bearing the name Harjap was Harjap Singh Aujla (1927-1986), an Indian politician and member of the Shiromani Akali Dal political party in Punjab. He served as a member of the Punjab Legislative Assembly and was known for his advocacy for the rights and interests of the Sikh community.
In the realm of literature, Harjap Bajwa (born 1954) is a renowned Punjabi poet and writer from India. He has received numerous awards and accolades for his contributions to Punjabi literature, including the prestigious Sahitya Akademi Award in 2016.
Harjap Singh Brar (1913-1987) was an Indian military officer who served in the British Indian Army and later the Indian Army. He played a significant role in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 and was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra, India's second-highest military decoration, for his bravery and leadership.
It is important to note that while the name Harjap has its roots in the Sikh tradition, it has also been adopted by individuals from other religious and cultural backgrounds within the region, reflecting the rich diversity and syncretism of South Asian cultures.
People
Harjap + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Harjap as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with H
Other first names starting with H with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Harjap: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Harjap?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 11 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Harjap going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 31,159,485 US residents.
Is Harjap a common name?
We classify Harjap as "Very Rare". It ranks above 30.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 11 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Harjap most popular?
The single biggest year for Harjap was 2017, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Harjap is about 12 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Harjap in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Harjap a male name?
Yes, 54.5% of people registered as Harjap in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Harjap still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Harjap in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Harjap can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people have the name Harjap?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.