Find out how popular the first name Harlyn has been for the last 28 years (from 1996 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Harlyn by gender

Based on the last 28 years of data, Harlyn is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 89% of people named Harlyn being female.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 162 female babies and 19 male babies born with the name Harlyn.

The history of the first name Harlyn

The name Harlyn is a relatively modern given name that emerged in the late 19th or early 20th century. Its origins are uncertain, but it is believed to be an English or Anglo-Saxon name derived from the combination of the Old English words "hær" meaning "army" and "linn" meaning "lake or pool." This suggests that the name may have originally been a place name referring to a lake or body of water near an army encampment or military settlement.

Another possible origin of the name is that it is a variant spelling of the name Harland, which is an English surname that can be traced back to the 12th century. Harland is thought to be derived from the Old English words "hær" meaning "army" and "land" meaning "land or territory," potentially referring to someone who lived in a territory associated with an army or military garrison.

While the name Harlyn does not appear to have any direct historical references or mentions in ancient texts or religious scriptures, its potential roots in Old English and Anglo-Saxon words suggest that it may have been used as a place name or surname in medieval England.

The earliest recorded examples of the name Harlyn as a given name are relatively recent, with records showing its use in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. One notable bearer of the name was Harlyn Geronimo Johnson (1903-1980), an American football player and coach who played for the University of Illinois and later coached at several colleges and universities.

Another individual with the name Harlyn was Harlyn Thompson (1928-2015), an American politician who served as the 32nd Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina from 1987 to 1995. Harlyn Davitt (1917-1984) was an American psychologist and academic who taught at various universities and authored several books on psychology.

In the field of literature, Harlyn Aizley (born 1953) is an American poet and writer who has published several collections of poetry and works of fiction. Harlyn J. Geronimo (1926-2008) was a Native American artist and painter from the Mescalero Apache tribe, known for his representations of Apache culture and traditions.

These are some of the notable individuals throughout history who have borne the name Harlyn, though it remains a relatively uncommon name with limited historical records or widespread use.

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

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

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