NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Harleen

A feminine name of English origin, derived from "harlequin" or "Arlecchino".

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.

Harleen is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Harleen popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #869, with 42 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2011, with 68 births.

This profile covers 1,040 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NRS Scotland, 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 62% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 1,042 living people in the UK are called Harleen. 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

  • Harleen ranked #869 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 42 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2011, when 68 girls were registered as Harleen.
  • Harleen ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #674 in 2011.
  • About 1,042 living people in the UK are estimated to have Harleen as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#869

2024

Births in 2024

42

Latest year

Peak year

2011

68 births

Estimated living

1,042

2026

Meaning

What does Harleen mean?

The name Harleen is believed to have originated from the Sanskrit language, with its roots tracing back to ancient India. The name is derived from the Sanskrit word "haralina," which means "green" or "verdant." This connection to nature and the color green suggests that the name may have been initially associated with fertility, growth, and renewal.

In the early days, Harleen was primarily used as a feminine name, although its gender-neutral connotations have led to its adoption by both males and females in more recent times. The earliest recorded use of the name can be found in ancient Hindu scriptures and texts, where it was often used to refer to the goddess of fertility and abundance.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Harleen. One of the earliest documented examples is Harleen Kaur, a renowned Sikh warrior and poet who lived in the 16th century. Her writings and poetry were instrumental in shaping the cultural and literary landscape of the Punjabi region during her time.

Another notable figure was Harleen Habib, a renowned Muslim scholar and philosopher who lived in the 9th century. Habib's extensive writings on theology, ethics, and metaphysics had a profound impact on the intellectual discourse of the Islamic Golden Age.

In the realm of arts and culture, Harleen Singh was a celebrated Indian classical dancer and choreographer from the 20th century. Her contributions to the preservation and promotion of traditional Indian dance forms earned her numerous accolades and recognition both within India and internationally.

Harleen Deol, born in 1997, is a contemporary Indian cricketer who has made her mark in the national women's cricket team. Her impressive performances on the field have earned her a dedicated following and inspired many young women to pursue their dreams in sports.

Lastly, Harleen Sethi, born in 1991, is a renowned Indian actress and model who has graced the silver screen with her talent and charm. Her successful career in the entertainment industry has made her a household name and a role model for aspiring actors and artists.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Harleen over time

The chart below shows babies named Harleen registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 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 Harleen, the clearest high point is 2011. The latest England and Wales figure is 42 births in 2024, compared with 68 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Harleen
017345168199620102024

Decades

Harleen by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Harleen 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 #946 192 5
2010s #752 524 10
2000s #1024 289 10
1990s #2000 35 4

Geography

Where Harleen is most common

The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Harleen. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.

Harleen ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #674 in 2011.

Scotland
4

Across the UK

Harleen in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Scotland (NRS)

#674 in 2011

2 years of NRS records, 7 total registered

Related

Names similar to Harleen

FAQ

Harleen: questions and answers

How popular is the name Harleen in the UK right now?

In 2024, Harleen was ranked #869 for girls in England and Wales, with 42 births registered.

When was Harleen most popular?

The peak year on record was 2011, with 68 babies registered as Harleen in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Harleen?

A feminine name of English origin, derived from "harlequin" or "Arlecchino".

How many people are called Harleen in the UK?

A total of 1,040 babies have been registered as Harleen across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 7 more in Scotland.

Where is Harleen most common?

In the latest published local rankings, Harleen ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #674 in 2011. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.

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.