The nameHarper
Harper is an English surname meaning "harp player", now mainly given to girls. It joined the American top ten in the 2010s.
- Girl's name
- English and Scottish
Meaning
Harper means "harp player", from the Old English hearpere.
Origin
English and Scottish, from an occupational surname.
History
The novelist Harper Lee, author of To Kill a Mockingbird (1960), made the name familiar for women. It took off as a girls' name in the 2000s and was in the American top ten in 2015 and from 2018 to 2021, reaching ninth place. David and Victoria Beckham named their daughter Harper in 2011.
Did you know?
- Harper Lee won the Pulitzer Prize in 1961 for To Kill a Mockingbird and did not publish a second novel until 2015.
Famous people named Harper
- Harper Lee, novelist
Popularity of the name Harper
Harper in the United States
Harper was most popular in the United States in the 2010s, with 88,375 births over the decade, 64% of all recorded babies named Harper. Its rise began around 2008, and it peaked in 2016. Half of all babies named Harper in the United States were born before 2017, so it is mostly a name of today's children and teenagers. Over the last five years on record, it has been falling: 8,266 births a year on average, against 10,823 in the five years before.
Harper in the United Kingdom
Harper was most popular in the United Kingdom in the 2010s, with 10,161 births over the decade, 50% of all recorded babies named Harper. Its rise began around 2012, and it peaked in 2018. Half of all babies named Harper in the United Kingdom were born before 2019, so it is mostly a name of today's children and teenagers. Over the last five years on record, its popularity has held steady at around 1,653 births a year.
Harper in Ireland
Sibling names for Harper
Names from the same generation as Harper, whose popularity in the United States has followed a similar path.
How many people are named Harper? See the counter → · What would your name be in 1950? · Name origin quiz
Compare Harper with another name
Meaning, origin and popularity of Harper side by side with the name of your choice.
Harper in our baby name lists
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Harper mean?
Harper means "harp player", from the Old English hearpere.
What is the origin of the name Harper?
English and Scottish, from an occupational surname.
Is Harper a girl's or a boy's name?
Harper is a girl's name.
How popular is the name Harper?
In 2024, Harper was the 12th most popular name for baby girls in the United States, with 7,370 births.
What are good sibling names for Harper?
Names from the same generation, with a similar popularity in the United States: Scarlett, Paisley, Violet and Aria for a sister, Grayson, Easton, Lincoln and Greyson for a brother.
Who are famous people named Harper?
Harper Lee, novelist.