Is Harley a boy, girl, or unisex name?

Harley is commonly used as a Unisex name.

How popular is Harley?

It’s currently ranked #355 in the U.S. Recent trend: Falling.

Harley Unisex

Popularity: #707 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Origin(s)

PronunciationHAR-lee / /ˈhɑːrli/

English; Old English

Meaning

English: hare meadow; Old English: from the hare's meadow

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Harley originated in England and was used as a surname before becoming popular as a given name. It is derived from Old English elements meaning 'hare' and 'meadow.' The name has been associated with various places in England, contributing to its geographical significance. In modern times, it has gained popularity as a unisex name, particularly for boys.

Trend Summary

Harley has seen a steady increase in popularity as a boy's name in the United States over the past few decades.

Variants

Harleigh
Harley

International Variants

Harley (English)

Famous people named Harley

Harley Davidson: Co-founder of Harley-Davidson Motor Company, known for revolutionizing motorcycle manufacturing.

Harley Pasternak: A Canadian fitness and nutrition expert, recognized for his work with celebrities.

Harley Quinn: A fictional character from DC Comics, known as the Joker's accomplice and love interest.

Harley E. Schermerhorn: An American politician who served in the New York State Assembly.

Fictional characters named Harley

Harley Quinn from the DC Comics universe is a well-known anti-heroine and former psychiatrist.

Harley from the video game series 'Borderlands' is a character known for his eccentric personality.

Sibling Suggestions

Harrison Harper Hayden Hank Holly Haven

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Harley was first seen in the United States in 1880. Harley has ranked as high as #599 nationally, which occurred in 1994, and has been most popular in California, Ohio, Texas, Michigan, and Indiana. In the past 5 years the name Harley has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

Top States for Harley (2024)

Year:

State	Births	Share
CA	25	15%
TX	18	11%
FL	11	7%
NY	10	6%
OH	10	6%
MN	9	6%
MO	8	5%
NC	8	5%
KY	8	5%
MI	7	4%
WA	6	4%
IL	6	4%
IN	6	4%
PA	6	4%
VA	5	3%

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

Year	Births
1880	70
1881	61
1882	75
1883	63
1884	73
1885	51
1886	73
1887	77
1888	82
1889	60
1890	52
1891	64
1892	91
1893	76
1894	63
1895	68
1896	64
1897	82
1898	71
1899	59
1900	79
1901	63
1902	83
1903	65
1904	56
1905	69
1906	52
1907	75
1908	71
1909	73
1910	89
1911	88
1912	197
1913	204
1914	322
1915	434
1916	454
1917	430
1918	491
1919	452
1920	484
1921	537
1922	525
1923	478
1924	522
1925	462
1926	492
1927	456
1928	484
1929	427
1930	454
1931	440
1932	396
1933	352
1934	375
1935	364
1936	354
1937	363
1938	350
1939	333
1940	346
1941	326
1942	319
1943	355
1944	309
1945	308
1946	318
1947	336
1948	295
1949	303
1950	265
1951	257
1952	272
1953	256
1954	243
1955	225
1956	237
1957	234
1958	177
1959	177
1960	172
1961	167
1962	138
1963	134
1964	147
1965	124
1966	140
1967	125
1968	123
1969	113
1970	129
1971	134
1972	135
1973	130
1974	169
1975	141
1976	169
1977	189
1978	237
1979	244
1980	281
1981	244
1982	247
1983	213
1984	209
1985	226
1986	203
1987	189
1988	228
1989	269
1990	292
1991	350
1992	557
1993	728
1994	789
1995	652
1996	605
1997	566
1998	541
1999	498
2000	538
2001	529
2002	581
2003	615
2004	560
2005	486
2006	498
2007	419
2008	422
2009	464
2010	448
2011	369
2012	384
2013	402
2014	411
2015	395
2016	379
2017	401
2018	300
2019	286
2020	300
2021	247
2022	251
2023	221
2024	218