Harley first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Harley has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Harley

From English meaning "meadow of hares" or "hare's field".

Popularity of Harley by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Harley is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 61% of people named Harley being female.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 885 female babies and 217 male babies born with the name Harley.

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 217 885
2022 247 969
2021 247 1,042
2020 299 1,111
2019 285 1,221
2018 299 1,409
2017 401 1,527
2016 379 1,430
2015 394 1,134
2014 410 949
2013 401 875
2012 383 758
2011 367 714
2010 448 716
2009 464 763
2008 421 781
2007 419 669
2006 497 835
2005 486 842
2004 558 876
2003 614 996
2002 581 871
2001 529 820
2000 538 756
1999 498 754
1998 541 825
1997 566 700
1996 605 730
1995 652 752
1994 789 858
1993 727 718
1992 557 456
1991 350 316
1990 292 156
1989 269 81
1988 228 36
1987 189 14
1986 203 17
1985 226 16
1984 209 15
1983 213 12
1982 247 12
1981 244 11
1980 281 10
1979 244 8
1978 237 7
1977 189 7
1976 169 0
1975 141 8
1974 169 0

The history of the first name Harley

The name Harley is of English origin, derived from the Old English words "hara" meaning "hare" and "leah" meaning "meadow" or "clearing." It's believed to have originated as a surname referring to a meadow or clearing where hares were found.

In its earliest recorded use, the name Harley appeared as a surname in the Domesday Book of 1086, a survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The entry referred to a place called "Herleia" in Nottinghamshire.

One of the earliest documented instances of Harley as a first name dates back to the 13th century. A man named Harley de Mascy was mentioned in records from Cheshire, England, in 1230.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the first name Harley. One of the most famous was Sir Harley Granville-Barker (1877-1946), an English actor, director, and playwright. He was a prominent figure in the early 20th century and helped establish the modern approach to Shakespearean productions.

Another notable Harley was Harley Earl (1893-1969), an American automotive designer and engineer. He was the visionary behind the iconic designs of many classic cars from General Motors, including the Chevrolet Corvette and the Cadillac tailfins.

In the world of literature, Harley Granville-Barker (1910-1986), an English writer and critic, made significant contributions to the study of Shakespeare's works. He was also a respected playwright and novelist.

Harley Parker (1915-1992) was an American professional baseball player who played for the Boston Red Sox and the St. Louis Browns in the 1940s. He was known for his defensive skills as an outfielder.

Harley Hotchkiss (1927-2011) was an American businessman and entrepreneur who founded several successful companies, including Hotchkiss Associates and Hotchkiss Domestic LLC. He was known for his innovative approach to product development and marketing.

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 Harley was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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"Harley first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on November 4, 2024. http://namecensus.com/first-names/harley-meaning-and-history/.

"Harley first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/harley-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 4 November, 2024

Harley first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/harley-meaning-and-history/.

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