Total births
3,437
Unisex name · since 1975
Harlem
Since 1975, U.S. Social Security records show 3,437 babies named Harlem, peaking in 2023. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- #1017
- among boys today
- 3,437
- born since 1975
- 2010s
- peak decade
- 93%
- more common than other boys
Yes -- Harlem is the #1017 most popular unisex name in the U.S. today, with 3,437 recorded since 1975.
Social Security Administration records show Harlem recorded 3,437 times among boys since 1975, holding rank #1017 nationally today, ahead of 93% of boys, peaking in the 2010s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1975 to 2025.
- #1017 among boys today
- 3,437 born since 1975
- 2010s peak decade
- 93% more common than other boys
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
Harlem is currently the #1017 unisex name in America, more common than 93% of boys - 3,437 born since 1975, peaking in the 2010s.
- #1017
- among boys today
- 3,437
- born since 1975
- 2010s
- peak decade
- 93%
- more common than other boys
Harlem vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#1017
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 93% of names given to boys today.
2010s
Peak decade
48% of everyone ever named Harlem was born in this single decade.
2023
Single peak year
254 babies were named Harlem in 2023 - its busiest year on record.
How Harlem compares
3,437 Top 15% higher than 85% of 14,294 names currently given to boys
Based on all-time total births among currently-ranked boys names. Names with fewer occurrences are grouped into wider buckets on the right.
Source U.S. Social Security Administration, national baby name data
How the numbers stack up
Harlem's all-time total is 9x the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Harlem | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 3,437 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 254 | 23 | 22,252 |
Harlem's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Splitting Harlem's full recorded timeline at 2013, 82% of its total births fall in the more recent half of the record versus 18% in the earlier half -- usage has skewed toward the present, not a one-decade spike. Its quietest year on record was 1975, with just 5 recorded births -- worth weighing against the 2023 peak of 254 to see the full range of the name's swing in popularity.
Harlem at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
2023
Current rank
#1,017
Active since
1975
Harlem popularity over time - boys
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1975–2025
- Peak year (2023)
- 254
- Annual births at peak, across 51 years of records
Harlem popularity over time - girls
1,745 total births recorded since 2000 (Harlem as girls' name)
Harlem by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
2010s was Harlem's strongest decade.
1,660 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 48% of all-time use.
Harlem births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1970s 5
1970s
5 births
- 2000s 337
2000s
337 births
- 2010s
2010s
1,660 births
- 2020s
2020s
1,435 births
What this shows Peak: 2010s at 1,660 births (48% of all-time use).
How Harlem compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 boys names closest to Harlem's total volume
Harlem vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Harlem by state
Where Harlem concentrates geographically, total births since 1975
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California | | 289 | 8.4% |
| #2 | Texas | | 260 | 7.6% |
| #3 | Georgia | | 198 | 5.8% |
| #4 | Louisiana | | 193 | 5.6% |
| #5 | Ohio | | 164 | 4.8% |
| #6 | North Carolina | | 154 | 4.5% |
| #7 | Florida | | 139 | 4.0% |
| #8 | Michigan | | 135 | 3.9% |
California share of Harlem's total US births 8.4%
Even split
289 of 3,437 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 28 reporting states.
Harlem appears in 28 states. Explore state details →
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Harlem? ▼
Harlem has been given to 3,437 babies in the U.S. since 1975, according to SSA data. Among boys, it ranks #1017 as of the latest data. 254 babies were born in 2023, its single highest year.
When was Harlem most popular? ▼
Harlem was most popular in the 2010s decade with 1,660 total births. The single peak year was 2023.
Where is Harlem most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Harlem are California (289 births), Texas (260 births), Georgia (198 births).
Is Harlem a unisex name? ▼
Yes, Harlem is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name it has 3,437 births, and as a girl's name it has 1,745 births.
How long has the name Harlem been used? ▼
The SSA has tracked Harlem since 1975 -- 51 years through the most recent 2025 data.
What names are similar to Harlem? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Harold, Harry, Harvey, Harrison, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Harlem's data
- Harlem's usage has stayed within range of its 2010s decade-level peak (1,660 total births) through the 2020s (1,435) -- a comparatively stable name, not a fading trend.
- California records the most Harlems (289 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. California names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Harlem
Nearby Names Like Harlem
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Harlem
Harold Boy
#988 551,632 births
Harry Boy
#775 423,866 births
Harvey Boy
#245 127,925 births
Harrison Boy
#121 99,138 births
Harley Boy
#1019 40,705 births
Compare Harlem side by side: Harlem vs Harold Harlem vs Harry Harlem vs Harvey
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Harlem
Avraham #1016
4,992 births · Peak 2024
Titan #1018
5,496 births · Peak 2017
Eliezer #1015
8,164 births · Peak 2025
Harley #1019
40,705 births · Peak 1994
Randy #1014
329,468 births · Peak 1956
Lyle #1020
59,190 births · Peak 1922
Joan #1013
7,701 births · Peak 2025
Barron #1021
5,647 births · Peak 2025
Data Sources
Data as of June 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1975–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Harlem: #1017 Unisex Name - 3,437 Births, Peak 2023." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/harlem. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Harlem draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.