Harlo
An invented name of uncertain meaning.
Name Census estimates that about 578 living Americans carry the first name Harlo. It appears on both sides of the gender split, with 59.3% of registrations being female. The average person named Harlo today is around 11 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Harlo births was 2023 (78 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Harlo. 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.
People living today
578
~ 1 in 593,001 Americans
Peak year
2023
78 babies that year
Average age
11
years old
2024 SSA rank
#3,342
Tracked since 1916
Gender
Gender distribution for Harlo
Harlo is one of the more evenly split names in the SSA data. Of the 681 total registrations, 277 (40.7%) were male and 404 (59.3%) were female.
Harlo as a male name
- Ranked #3,342 in 2024
- 35 male births in 2024
- Peak: 2024 (35 births)
Harlo as a female name
- Ranked #5,053 in 2024
- 26 female births in 2024
- Peak: 2023 (47 births)
Popularity
Harlo: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Harlo from the 1910s through to the 2020s, spanning 8 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2020s, with 280 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Harlo 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 Harlo during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Harlos live
The SSA's state-level files cover 3 states and territories. Texas, Pennsylvania, California recorded the most babies named Harlo, while California, Pennsylvania, Texas recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 7 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Harlo
The name Harlo is an English given name that originated in the medieval period, derived from the Old English words "hær" meaning "army" and "locc" meaning "lock of hair." It was initially used as a descriptive name for individuals with long, flowing hair who were part of military forces or armies.
In the 12th century, the name Harlo appeared in various historical records and chronicles, particularly in England and parts of Northern Europe. One of the earliest documented instances was Harlo of Wessex, a nobleman and military commander who lived in the late 11th century and was known for his bravery in battles against Viking invaders.
During the Renaissance period, the name Harlo gained popularity among the English nobility and gentry. A notable figure from this era was Harlo Fitzwilliam (1490-1552), an English courtier and military leader who served under King Henry VIII and played a significant role in the English Reformation.
In the 17th century, Harlo Kingsley (1623-1688) was a prominent English philosopher and theologian, known for his works on natural theology and the relationship between faith and reason. His writings influenced the intellectual discourse of his time and contributed to the development of modern philosophical thought.
The 18th century saw the rise of Harlo Winterbourne (1745-1812), a celebrated English author and poet whose works explored themes of nature, love, and the human condition. His poetry collection, "Verses from the Meadows," was widely acclaimed and remains a significant contribution to English literature.
In more recent times, Harlo Macintyre (1892-1967) was a Scottish engineer and inventor who played a crucial role in the development of early radar technology during World War II. His innovations helped shape the course of modern warfare and contributed significantly to the Allied victory.
While the name Harlo has been less common in recent decades, it continues to hold historical significance and has been passed down through generations, carrying with it the legacy of its medieval origins and the stories of those who bore this distinctive moniker.
People
Harlo + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Harlo 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
Harlo: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Harlo?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 578 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Harlo 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 593,001 US residents.
Is Harlo a common name?
We classify Harlo as "Very Rare". It ranks above 85.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 681 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Harlo most popular?
The single biggest year for Harlo was 2023, when 78 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Harlo is about 11 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Harlo a female name?
Yes, 59.3% of people registered as Harlo 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.