Girl & boy name
Harlem
Harlem is currently the #970 boy name in the United States, based on 2025 Social Security data. In raw numbers: 236 babies. The ranking has held remarkably steady over the last five years. Looking at the full record since 1975, Harlem hit its all-time high of #905 in 2020, when 248 boys were given the name. State by state, Mississippi leads the way at #370.
Rankings
Harlem popularity, 1880–2025
Where Harlem is most popular
Uniqueness score
Well known, but far from crowded — the middle of the field. Based on how many babies per birth were named Harlem in the most recent year of SSA data.
Harlem as a girl name
Harlem holds the #1458 spot on the 2025 list of the most popular girl names in the U.S. That amounts to 147 newborn girls in a single year. Its position has barely moved over the past five years — a sign of steady, established appeal. Its strongest year on record was 2024 (#1302 nationally, 177 newborns), in a data series reaching back to 2000. The name's biggest fan base is in South Carolina (#614 there in 2025).