NameCensus.

UK name, mostly boys

Harlo

An invented name of uncertain meaning.

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.

Also recorded as a girls' name in the UK, with 61 girls.

Harlo is mostly registered for boys in the UK records. People looking for Harlo popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1517, with 17 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2023, with 34 births.

This profile covers 188 England and Wales registrations across 13 recorded years from 2012 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 50% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 190 living people in the UK are called Harlo. 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

  • Harlo ranked #1517 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 17 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2023, when 34 boys were registered as Harlo.
  • Harlo ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #704 in 2018.
  • Harlo is also recorded for girls, but the boys side is the larger UK variant in these records.
  • About 190 living people in the UK are estimated to have Harlo as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
  • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 75.5% of Harlo registrations are for boys.

Latest rank (E&W)

#1517

2024

Births in 2024

17

Latest year

Peak year

2023

34 births

Estimated living

190

2026

Gender

Boy and girl registrations for Harlo

In England and Wales birth records, Harlo has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 75.5% of registrations are for boys and 24.5% 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.

76% boys
24% girls
Boys188 (75.5%)Girls61 (24.5%)

Harlo registered for boys

  • Ranked #1,517 in 2024
  • 17 boys registered in 2024
  • Peak: 2023 (34 births)

Harlo registered for girls

  • Ranked #4,843 in 2024
  • 4 girls registered in 2024
  • Peak: 2016 (11 births)

Meaning

What does Harlo mean?

The name Harlo is an English given name that originated in the medieval period, derived from the Old English words "hær" meaning "army" and "locc" meaning "lock of hair." It was initially used as a descriptive name for individuals with long, flowing hair who were part of military forces or armies.

In the 12th century, the name Harlo appeared in various historical records and chronicles, particularly in England and parts of Northern Europe. One of the earliest documented instances was Harlo of Wessex, a nobleman and military commander who lived in the late 11th century and was known for his bravery in battles against Viking invaders.

During the Renaissance period, the name Harlo gained popularity among the English nobility and gentry. A notable figure from this era was Harlo Fitzwilliam (1490-1552), an English courtier and military leader who served under King Henry VIII and played a significant role in the English Reformation.

In the 17th century, Harlo Kingsley (1623-1688) was a prominent English philosopher and theologian, known for his works on natural theology and the relationship between faith and reason. His writings influenced the intellectual discourse of his time and contributed to the development of modern philosophical thought.

The 18th century saw the rise of Harlo Winterbourne (1745-1812), a celebrated English author and poet whose works explored themes of nature, love, and the human condition. His poetry collection, "Verses from the Meadows," was widely acclaimed and remains a significant contribution to English literature.

In more recent times, Harlo Macintyre (1892-1967) was a Scottish engineer and inventor who played a crucial role in the development of early radar technology during World War II. His innovations helped shape the course of modern warfare and contributed significantly to the Allied victory.

While the name Harlo has been less common in recent decades, it continues to hold historical significance and has been passed down through generations, carrying with it the legacy of its medieval origins and the stories of those who bore this distinctive moniker.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Harlo over time

The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Harlo in England and Wales, from 2012 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 Harlo, the clearest high point is 2023. The latest England and Wales figure is 17 births in 2024, compared with 34 at the peak.

Babies born per year

BoysGirls
010213141201220182024

Decades

Harlo by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Harlo 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 #1413 104 5
2010s #2509 84 8

Geography

Where Harlo is most common

The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Harlo. 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.

Harlo ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #704 in 2018.

Scotland
3

Across the UK

Harlo in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Scotland (NRS)

#704 in 2018

1 years of NRS records, 3 total registered

Related

Names similar to Harlo

FAQ

Harlo: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Harlo was ranked #1517 for boys in England and Wales, with 17 births registered.

When was Harlo most popular?

The peak year on record was 2023, with 34 babies registered as Harlo in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Harlo?

An invented name of uncertain meaning.

How many people are called Harlo in the UK?

A total of 188 babies have been registered as Harlo across the 13 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 3 more in Scotland.

Where is Harlo most common?

In the latest published local rankings, Harlo ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #704 in 2018. 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.