UK boy's name
Harland
From the English elements "here" and "land", a name associated with a lush meadow or grassy plain.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Harland is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Harland popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3254, with 6 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2023, with 11 births.
This profile covers 111 England and Wales registrations across 20 recorded years from 2000 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 55% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 110 living people in the UK are called Harland. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Harland ranked #3254 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 6 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2023, when 11 boys were registered as Harland.
- • About 110 living people in the UK are estimated to have Harland as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3254
2024
Births in 2024
6
Latest year
Peak year
2023
11 births
Estimated living
110
2026
Meaning
What does Harland mean?
The name Harland has its origins in the Old English language, deriving from the words "here" meaning army and "land" meaning land or territory. This suggests that the name was initially used to refer to someone who owned or controlled a significant amount of land or territory, or perhaps a military commander or landowner.
The earliest recorded usage of the name Harland dates back to the 11th century in England, where it appeared in the Domesday Book of 1086 as a surname. During the Middle Ages, the name was primarily used as a surname, and its use as a given name didn't become widespread until the 16th and 17th centuries.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the first name Harland was Harland Wolff, an Irish naval architect and engineer who lived from 1860 to 1924. He is best known for his work on the construction of the RMS Titanic and other famous ships built by Harland and Wolff shipyard in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Another notable figure was Harland David Sanders, better known as Colonel Sanders, the founder of the Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) restaurant chain. He was born in 1890 and passed away in 1980. Sanders is widely recognized for his iconic white suit and goatee, as well as his successful franchising of KFC.
In the world of literature, Harland Miller is a contemporary British artist and writer, known for his satirical reimaginings of classic book covers. He was born in 1964 and continues to create thought-provoking works that blend art and literature.
Harland Bartholomew, an American urban planner and civil engineer, made significant contributions to the field of city planning in the early 20th century. He lived from 1889 to 1989 and was instrumental in developing comprehensive plans for numerous cities across the United States.
Harland Ellison, a prolific American writer and critic, was born in 1934 and passed away in 2018. He is renowned for his work in the science fiction and fantasy genres, winning numerous awards including multiple Hugos, Nebulas, and Edgars for his influential short stories and novels.
While the name Harland has remained relatively uncommon throughout history, these notable individuals have left a lasting impact in their respective fields, highlighting the diverse backgrounds and achievements associated with this name of Old English origin.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Harland over time
The chart below shows babies named Harland registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2000 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Harland, the clearest high point is 2023. The latest England and Wales figure is 6 births in 2024, compared with 11 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Harland by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Harland was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #3285 | 32 | 5 |
| 2010s | #3138 | 56 | 9 |
| 2000s | #3186 | 23 | 6 |
Related
Names similar to Harland
- Harry 141,693
- Henry 65,177
- Harrison 45,958
- Harvey 35,648
- Harley 22,095
- Hugo 18,779
- Hayden 12,622
- Hunter 10,350
- Hudson 9,104
- Hamza 8,564
- Hassan 5,982
- Hasan 3,599
FAQ
Harland: questions and answers
How popular is the name Harland in the UK right now?
In 2024, Harland was ranked #3254 for boys in England and Wales, with 6 births registered.
When was Harland most popular?
The peak year on record was 2023, with 11 babies registered as Harland in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Harland?
From the English elements "here" and "land", a name associated with a lush meadow or grassy plain.
How many people are called Harland in the UK?
A total of 111 babies have been registered as Harland across the 20 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.