The nameHarvey

Harvey is a Breton name brought to England by the Normans. It is popular in England and Wales.

Boy's name
Breton

Meaning

Harvey comes from the Breton Haerviu, from haer, "battle", and viu, "worthy".

Origin

Breton, brought to England after 1066. Saint Hervé is a popular saint of Brittany.

History

Harvey was in the American top 100 from 1880 to 1940. In England and Wales it reached 27th place in 2005. The play and film Harvey (1950), about an invisible giant rabbit, made it famous.

Did you know?

Elected in San Francisco in 1977, Harvey Milk was one of the first openly gay elected officials in the United States. He was assassinated the following year.

Famous people named Harvey

Harvey Milk, politician and gay rights activist
Harvey Keitel, actor
Harvey Elliott, footballer

Popularity of the name Harvey

Harvey in the United States

245thmost popular boys' name in the United States in 2024

1921peak year (2,294 births)

127,377babies named Harvey in the United States since 1880

Births per year in the United States. Source: Social Security Administration, names given at least 5 times a year.

Harvey was most popular in the United States in the 1920s, with 21,966 births over the decade, 17% of all recorded babies named Harvey. Half of all babies named Harvey in the United States were born before 1939, so it is mostly a great-grandparents' generation name. Over the last five years on record, it has been rising: 963 births a year on average, against 770 in the five years before.

Harvey in the United Kingdom

140thmost popular boys' name in the United Kingdom in 2025

2005peak year (2,539 births)

37,494babies named Harvey in the United Kingdom since 1997

Births per year in the United Kingdom. Source: ONS, NRS and NISRA (England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland), names given at least 3 times a year.

Harvey was most popular in the United Kingdom in the 2000s, with 19,666 births over the decade, 52% of all recorded babies named Harvey. Half of all babies named Harvey in the United Kingdom were born before 2008, so it is mostly a name of today's children and teenagers. Over the last five years on record, it has been falling: 525 births a year on average, against 925 in the five years before.

Harvey in Ireland

251stmost popular boys' name in Ireland in 2025

2015peak year (46 births)

640babies named Harvey in Ireland since 1964

Births per year in Ireland. Source: Central Statistics Office, names given at least 3 times a year.

Sibling names for Harvey

Names from the same generation as Harvey, whose popularity in the United States has followed a similar path.

For a sister

For a brother

How many people are named Harvey? See the counter → · What would your name be in 1950? · Name origin quiz

Harvey in our baby name lists

Frequently asked questions

What does the name Harvey mean?

Harvey comes from the Breton Haerviu, from haer, "battle", and viu, "worthy".

What is the origin of the name Harvey?

Breton, brought to England after 1066. Saint Hervé is a popular saint of Brittany.

Is Harvey a girl's or a boy's name?

Harvey is a boy's name.

How popular is the name Harvey?

In 2024, Harvey was the 245th most popular name for baby boys in the United States, with 1,441 births.

What are good sibling names for Harvey?

Names from the same generation, with a similar popularity in the United States: Mabel, Elsie, Aurelia and Maisie for a sister, Ellis, Milan, Otto and Muhammad for a brother.

Who are famous people named Harvey?

Harvey Milk, politician and gay rights activist; Harvey Keitel, actor; Harvey Elliott, footballer.