NameCensus.

UK name, mostly boys

Harlin

A masculine name derived from the English surname Harland, meaning "hare land".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2021. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Also recorded as a girls' name in the UK, with 6 girls.

Harlin is mostly registered for boys in the UK records. People looking for Harlin popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2021 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4789, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2018, with 3 births.

This profile covers 6 England and Wales registrations across 2 recorded years from 2018 to 2021. 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 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 6 living people in the UK are called Harlin. 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 2022 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Harlin ranked #4789 for boys in England and Wales in 2021, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2018, when 3 boys were registered as Harlin.
  • Harlin is also recorded for girls, but the boys side is the larger UK variant in these records.
  • About 6 living people in the UK are estimated to have Harlin as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
  • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 50.0% of Harlin registrations are for boys.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4789

2021

Births in 2021

3

Latest year

Peak year

2018

3 births

Estimated living

6

2026

Gender

Boy and girl registrations for Harlin

In England and Wales birth records, Harlin has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 50.0% of registrations are for boys and 50.0% are for girls.

These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.

50% boys
50% girls
Boys6 (50.0%)Girls6 (50.0%)

Harlin registered for boys

  • Ranked #4,789 in 2021
  • 3 boys registered in 2021
  • Peak: 2018 (3 births)

Harlin registered for girls

  • Ranked #5,591 in 2019
  • 3 girls registered in 2019
  • Peak: 2007 (3 births)

Meaning

What does Harlin mean?

The name Harlin finds its origins in the Old English language, tracing back to the 8th century AD. It is believed to be a compound name, derived from the words "hær" meaning "army" and "lin" meaning "lake" or "pool." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to a person living near a lake or pond where armies would gather.

One of the earliest known references to the name Harlin can be found in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, a historical record documenting events in Anglo-Saxon England. The entry from the year 871 AD mentions a person named Harlin, who was a soldier in the army of King Ethelred of Wessex.

During the Middle Ages, the name Harlin appeared sporadically in various records and manuscripts across England and parts of Scotland. One notable individual bearing this name was Harlin of Montfort, a Norman knight who fought in the First Crusade and participated in the siege of Jerusalem in 1099 AD.

In the 13th century, a Benedictine monk named Harlin of Canterbury gained some renown for his scholarly works on theology and philosophy. His treatise, "De Natura Rerum" (On the Nature of Things), was widely circulated among medieval scholars.

Fast-forwarding to the 16th century, a minor English nobleman named Harlin Wentworth is recorded as having served in the court of King Henry VIII. He is mentioned in historical accounts as being a member of the king's privy council.

Another individual of note was Harlin Brewster, an English Puritan who was among the early settlers of the Plymouth Colony in North America. He arrived on the Mayflower in 1620 and played a significant role in establishing the colony's governance and religious practices.

Throughout history, the name Harlin has maintained a relatively low popularity compared to other given names. However, it has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including soldiers, scholars, nobles, and pioneers, reflecting its enduring presence across different eras and cultures.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Harlin over time

The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Harlin in England and Wales, from 2007 to 2021. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Harlin, the clearest high point is 2018. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2021, compared with 3 at the peak.

Babies born per year

BoysGirls
01223200720142021

Decades

Harlin by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Harlin 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 #4789 3 1
2010s #4749 3 1

Related

Names similar to Harlin

FAQ

Harlin: questions and answers

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

In 2021, Harlin was ranked #4789 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Harlin most popular?

The peak year on record was 2018, with 3 babies registered as Harlin in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Harlin?

A masculine name derived from the English surname Harland, meaning "hare land".

How many people are called Harlin in the UK?

A total of 6 babies have been registered as Harlin across the 2 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.