Find out how popular the first name Harlem has been for the last 49 years (from 1975 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Harlem by gender

Based on the last 49 years of data, Harlem is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 68% of people named Harlem being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 252 male babies and 153 female babies born with the name Harlem.

The history of the first name Harlem

The name Harlem is a relatively modern name, thought to have originated in the late 19th or early 20th century from the New York City neighborhood of Harlem. The name Harlem itself is derived from the Dutch settlement of Haarlem, which was located in the area that would become known as Harlem.

The earliest recorded use of the name Harlem as a given name is believed to be in reference to the famous Harlem Renaissance, a cultural movement that took place in Harlem, New York during the 1920s and 1930s. This movement saw a flourishing of African American art, literature, music, and culture, and the name Harlem likely gained popularity as a way to celebrate this important cultural event.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the name Harlem was Harlem Globetrotter, who was born in 1909 and was a member of the famous Harlem Globetrotters basketball team. The team, which was formed in 1926, helped to promote the name Harlem and its association with African American culture and athleticism.

Another notable individual with the name Harlem was Harlem Désir, a French politician who was born in 1959. Désir served as the Minister of European Affairs in France from 2014 to 2017, and his name was likely chosen as a nod to the cultural significance of Harlem in the United States.

In the world of music, Harlem Yu is a Taiwanese singer and songwriter who was born in 1984. Yu's name likely reflects the influence of African American culture and music on popular culture worldwide.

Harlem Shake, born in 1987, is an American rapper and comedian who helped to popularize the dance move known as the Harlem Shake in the early 2010s. His name directly references the neighborhood of Harlem and its cultural significance.

Finally, Harlem Lee is a Korean-American actress who was born in 1991. Her name reflects the continued influence of the cultural legacy of Harlem on popular culture and entertainment around the world.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Harlem was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Harlem, please contact us.

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