Meaning & origin
A reliable meaning for Harlowe isn’t established in our sources yet. Rather than guess, we show what is recorded: how the name is used, how often, and the names it’s connected to.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1916. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Harlowe through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 1,060
- 66 boys · 994 girls
- Most popular year
- 2024
- 135 babies
- 2025
- 128
- #1,784 for girls · #5,954 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +86%
- Rising fast
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 113 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 1,784 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 71.2% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. It also appeared in 15 birth records for boys in 2025. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (12). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 511 as a first name in 2020; 225 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.
Harlowe’s family of names
Harlowe has a related form in Harlow.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 1
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Across languages 1
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
Similar names
If you love Harlowe, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Halo
“having a blessed aura”
20% boys · 80% girls
Marlowe
“one who resembles driftwood” · “resembling driftwood”
8% boys · 92% girls
Hallie
“from the hall” · “woman of the sea”
>99% girls
Haven
“one who provides a safe place” · “one who provides sanctuary; shelter”
9% boys · 91% girls
Holland
“from the Netherlands”
18% boys · 82% girls
Harley
“from the meadow of the hares”
20% boys · 80% girls
Haisley
>99% girls
Arleth
>99% girls