Given name & surname
Harland
“an athletic woman”·“from the army”
Harland is a variant of Harlan. Interpretations include “an athletic woman” (English) and “from the army” (English). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Meaning & origin
What it means
Harland is a variant of Harlan. Interpretations include “an athletic woman” (English) and “from the army” (English). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Harland is a variant of Harlan. An origin associated with Harlan is English.
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1882. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. Harland is a variant of Harlan. The history of Harlan gives this family its wider story. Harlan’s naming history includes the use of a family name as a given name.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Harland through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 5,837
- 5,813 boys · 24 girls
- Most popular year
- 1922
- 156 babies
- 2025
- 73
- #2,045 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +21%
- Rising
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 73 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 2,045 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 29.6% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 156 in 1922. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (10). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 2,116 as a first name in 2020; 2,049 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Harland’s family of names
Harland has a related form in Harlan. In German usage, Harland as a surname has a related form in HARLANDER.
The ring: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 2
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
People named Harland
- Colonel SandersAmerican entrepreneur (1890-1980) who founded KFC
- Harland WilliamsCanadian actorborn 1962
- Harland G. Woodbiochemist (1907–1991)
- Harland SvareAmerican football player and coach (1930-2020)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Harland, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
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