Harper Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Harper originates from Old English, meaning 'harp player' or 'minstrel'. It has evolved through various historical forms, starting from 'hearpe' in Old English to its current form. The name is associated with creativity and has no direct biblical relevance. Harper gained popularity in the 19th and 20th centuries, becoming a common given name today.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Harper"
Pronunciation
/ˈhɑːrpər/
Origin
Old English
Etymology
The name Harper is derived from the Old English word 'hearpe', meaning 'harp player' or 'minstrel'. It originally referred to someone who played the harp as a profession or hobby.
Meaning
harp player, minstrel
Language Evolution
Old English: Hearpe, Middle English: Harpere, Modern English: Harper
Historical Usage
Harper gained popularity as a surname in England during the medieval period, eventually transitioning into common use as a given name in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Variants & Derivatives
Harper Lee, Harper Grace, Harper James
Modern Popularity & Image
In contemporary society, Harper is perceived as a trendy and gender-neutral name, often associated with creativity and artistic expression, particularly due to its association with literature and music.
Famous People
Harper Lee - American author known for 'To Kill a Mockingbird', Harper Beckham - Daughter of David and Victoria Beckham
📊 Harper Name Trend Analysis
Boy Name Trend
Recent 3-Year Analysis
Girl Name Trend
Recent 3-Year Analysis
Explore More Harper Name Visualizations
✨ Harper Name Meaning & Significance
Popularity Trend
Highly Popular name with 11,101 peak births in 2016
Geographic Spread
Popular across 51 US states, with strongest presence in Nevada
Historical Span
Data spanning 145 years from 1880 to 2024, showing long-term trends
Generational Impact
Influenced 11 different American generations with varying popularity
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Harper"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Harper"
"Harper" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 1502nd of 7545 | 384 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 2022nd of 6773 | 244 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 2675th of 7552 | 179 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 3451st of 10718 | 142 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 3889th of 16616 | 210 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 1014th of 24088 | 2,727 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 960th of 23106 | 2,691 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 9658th of 19264 | 50 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 4257th of 27321 | 349 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 251st of 35406 | 20,470 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 10th of 30306 | 111,345 |
Regional Popularity of "Harper" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- |
91.44% 1261st/1379 |
84.53% 2000th/2366 |
- |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- |
78.86% 1227th/1556 |
- | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - |
67.60% 3511th/5194 |
- |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
18.03% 826th/4582 |
29.07% 1501st/5164 |
12.79% 935th/7313 |
14.70% 1097th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
25.05% 998th/3984 |
25.18% 1130th/4487 |
12.84% 876th/6822 |
17.97% 1128th/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Harper" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
85.07% 3135th/3685 |
100.00% 4475th/4475 |
59.76% 3104th/5194 |
61.80% 3904th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
4.36% 200th/4582 |
7.22% 373rd/5164 |
3.09% 226th/7313 |
4.64% 346th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
0.20% 8th/3984 |
0.31% 14th/4487 |
0.13% 9th/6822 |
0.32% 20th/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Harper"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Harper" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.
Comprehensive Regional & Generational Popularity Trends of "Harper" in the United States
The name Harper is most popular in Nevada, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Generation Alpha generation in the MidWest region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is declining in usage, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been consistently rising. From 2020-2022, Harper has been stalled for male in MidWest, too falling for female in MidWest, too falling for male in Northeast, falling for female in Northeast, falling for male in South, too rising for female in South, stalled for male in West, too falling for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, too falling for female in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, too falling for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, too falling for female in South, stalled for male in West, too falling for female in West. Across generations, 'Harper' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 1502nd out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 2022nd out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 2675th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 3451st out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 3889th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 1014th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 960th out of 23106 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 9658th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 4257th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 251st out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 10th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Harper' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.