Harleen
A feminine name of English origin, derived from "harlequin" or "Arlecchino".
Name Census estimates that about 1,390 living Americans carry the first name Harleen. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Harleen today is around 15 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Harleen births was 2016 (119 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Harleen. 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.
Key insights
- • Harleen is a relatively new arrival in the SSA data. The average bearer is just 15 years old, meaning it gained most of its traction in the last two decades.
People living today
1.4K
~ 1 in 246,586 Americans
Peak year
2016
119 babies that year
Average age
15
years old
2024 SSA rank
#4,924
Tracked since 1937
Popularity
Harleen: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Harleen from the 1930s through to the 2020s, spanning 7 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 705 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Harleen remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Harleen 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 Harleen during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Harleens live
The SSA's state-level files cover 12 states and territories. California, New York, Texas recorded the most babies named Harleen, while Virginia, Florida, Colorado recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 59 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Harleen
The name Harleen is believed to have originated from the Sanskrit language, with its roots tracing back to ancient India. The name is derived from the Sanskrit word "haralina," which means "green" or "verdant." This connection to nature and the color green suggests that the name may have been initially associated with fertility, growth, and renewal.
In the early days, Harleen was primarily used as a feminine name, although its gender-neutral connotations have led to its adoption by both males and females in more recent times. The earliest recorded use of the name can be found in ancient Hindu scriptures and texts, where it was often used to refer to the goddess of fertility and abundance.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Harleen. One of the earliest documented examples is Harleen Kaur, a renowned Sikh warrior and poet who lived in the 16th century. Her writings and poetry were instrumental in shaping the cultural and literary landscape of the Punjabi region during her time.
Another notable figure was Harleen Habib, a renowned Muslim scholar and philosopher who lived in the 9th century. Habib's extensive writings on theology, ethics, and metaphysics had a profound impact on the intellectual discourse of the Islamic Golden Age.
In the realm of arts and culture, Harleen Singh was a celebrated Indian classical dancer and choreographer from the 20th century. Her contributions to the preservation and promotion of traditional Indian dance forms earned her numerous accolades and recognition both within India and internationally.
Harleen Deol, born in 1997, is a contemporary Indian cricketer who has made her mark in the national women's cricket team. Her impressive performances on the field have earned her a dedicated following and inspired many young women to pursue their dreams in sports.
Lastly, Harleen Sethi, born in 1991, is a renowned Indian actress and model who has graced the silver screen with her talent and charm. Her successful career in the entertainment industry has made her a household name and a role model for aspiring actors and artists.
People
Harleen + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Harleen 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
Harleen: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Harleen?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 1,390 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Harleen 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 246,586 US residents.
Is Harleen a common name?
We classify Harleen as "Rare". It ranks above 92% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 1,452 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Harleen most popular?
The single biggest year for Harleen was 2016, when 119 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Harleen is about 15 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Harleen a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Harleen in the SSA data are female. 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.
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.