Harley Name Meaning, Origin, Popularity, Girl Names Like Harley

Harley Name Origin: English
Pronunciation: har-lee
See what 11 people think about Harley

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Harley Name Meaning

Harley literally means “hare meadow,” which is a peaceful and serene image. It could also be interpreted as someone who is quick and agile, much like a hare.

History of the Name Harley

The name Harley has a rich history and an interesting origin. It was first used as a surname in the 14th century, derived from the Old English words “hearg” meaning “hare” and “leah” meaning “meadow.” So, the name literally means “hare meadow” – which is pretty adorable, if you ask me.

Popularity of the Name Harley

It wasn’t until the late 19th and early 20th century that Harley began to be used as a first name. And, let’s be real, it’s not hard to see why. The name exudes a sense of coolness and rebellion, perfectly fitting for the era of the “bad boy” biker.

The association with motorcycles and the “rebel” image likely comes from the famous Harley-Davidson motorcycle company, which was founded in 1903. So, if your parents named you Harley, chances are they were feeling pretty darn cool when they did it.

In recent years, the name Harley has seen a resurgence in popularity, particularly for baby girls. It’s a strong and unique name that is perfect for parents looking for something a little different.

In the United States, the name Harley has consistently been in the top 1,000 names for girls since the late 1800s. However, it did not break the top 100 names until the year 2000. In the year 2021, it ranked at #569 in the popularity chart.

Final Thoughts on the Name Harley

So, whether you’re considering naming your future daughter Harley or you’re just curious about the name’s history, one thing is for sure: it’s a name that exudes strength, confidence, and a hint of rebellion. And that’s pretty cool.

In conclusion, the name Harley has a rich history and an interesting origin, it’s a strong and unique name that is perfect for parents looking for something a little different, with a perfect combination of cool, unique image and sweet meaning, it’s a name that exudes strength, confidence, and a hint of rebellion. That’s why it’s a popular choice for parents and will continue to be in future.

Harley Name Popularity

How popular is the name Harley? Here’s everything we know.

Year	Rank	# Births	% Births
1910	—	0	0%
1911	—	0	0%
1912	—	0	0%
1913	—	0	0%
1914	—	0	0%
1915	—	0	0%
1916	—	0	0%
1917	—	0	0%
1918	—	0	0%
1919	—	0	0%
1920	—	0	0%
1921	—	0	0%
1922	—	0	0%
1923	—	0	0%
1924	—	0	0%
1925	—	0	0%
1926	—	0	0%
1927	—	0	0%
1928	—	0	0%
1929	—	0	0%
1930	—	0	0%
1931	—	0	0%
1932	—	0	0%
1933	—	0	0%
1934	—	0	0%
1935	—	0	0%
1936	—	0	0%
1937	—	0	0%
1938	—	0	0%
1939	—	0	0%
1940	—	0	0%
1941	—	0	0%
1942	—	0	0%
1943	—	0	0%
1944	—	0	0%
1945	—	0	0%
1946	—	0	0%
1947	—	0	0%
1948	—	0	0%
1949	—	0	0%
1950	—	0	0%
1951	—	0	0%
1952	—	0	0%
1953	—	0	0%
1954	—	0	0%
1955	—	0	0%
1956	—	0	0%
1957	—	0	0%
1958	—	0	0%
1959	—	0	0%
1960	—	0	0%
1961	—	0	0%
1962	—	0	0%
1963	—	0	0%
1964	—	0	0%
1965	—	0	0%
1966	—	0	0%
1967	—	0	0%
1968	—	0	0%
1969	—	0	0%
1970	—	0	0%
1971	—	0	0%
1972	—	0	0%
1973	—	0	0%
1974	—	0	0%
1975	—	0	0%
1976	—	0	0%
1977	—	0	0%
1978	—	0	0%
1979	—	0	0%
1980	—	0	0%
1981	—	0	0%
1982	—	0	0%
1983	—	0	0%
1984	—	0	0%
1985	—	0	0%
1986	—	0	0%
1987	—	0	0%
1988	—	0	0%
1989	1,940	26	0.0016%
1990	1,187	95	0.0057%
1991	686	266	0.0163%
1992	517	421	0.0264%
1993	360	677	0.0434%
1994	315	829	0.054%
1995	353	711	0.0472%
1996	369	692	0.0462%
1997	381	663	0.0448%
1998	352	792	0.0529%
1999	378	727	0.0485%
2000	378	731	0.0479%
2001	364	788	0.0523%
2002	342	835	0.0557%
2003	309	975	0.0641%
2004	362	840	0.0551%
2005	368	819	0.0536%
2006	385	802	0.0512%
2007	476	642	0.0407%
2008	403	758	0.049%
2009	414	728	0.0487%
2010	424	692	0.048%
2011	423	693	0.0486%
2012	396	735	0.0516%
2013	356	849	0.0596%
2014	340	927	0.0636%
2015	271	1,106	0.076%
2016	219	1,415	0.0981%
2017	196	1,509	0.1081%
2018	218	1,373	0.0999%
2019	262	1,192	0.0881%
2020	288	1,047	0.0823%
2021	317	925	0.0757%
2022	331	939	0.0712%

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Delaware (DE)

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Minnesota (MN)

Missouri (MO)

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Montana (MT)

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Wyoming (WY)

Data via SSA.gov.

Names Like Harley

If you like Harley, you’ll love these other names like Harley.

What names are variants of Harley?

Mix it up with these names that are a variation of the name Harley.

Name	Meaning	Origin
Arlea	Hare meadow	English
Arlee	Hare meadow	English
Arleigh	Hare-meadow	English
Arley	Hare meadow	English
Harlea	Hare meadow	English
Harlee	Hare meadow	English
Harleen	Hare meadow	English
Harleigh	Hare meadow	English
Harlene	Hare meadow	English
Harlie	Hare meadow	English
Harly	Hare meadow	English

What names sound like Harley?

If you like how Harley sounds, you might also like these names that sound like Harley.

Name	Meaning	Origin	Popularity	Other Gender
Harela	The Lord's mountain	Hebrew
Harrela	The Lord's mountain	Hebrew

Lists With Harley

Find inspiration in these baby girl name lists featuring the name Harley.

Siblings of Harley

Mamas with kids named Harley also have kids with these names.

Name	Meaning	Origin	Popularity	Other Gender
Drake	Dragon	English

Michael	Who is Like God?	Hebrew
David	Beloved	Hebrew
Lorelei	“The enchantress,” in allusion to the siren of German legend whose singing on reefs in the Rhine lured sailors to their doom.	German
Elianna	God has answered	Hebrew
Elijah	My God is Yahweh	Hebrew
Ethan	Enduring and strong	Hebrew

Share Your Thoughts

11 Comments

Harley May 27 at 12:20 am

I was named on Easter after my mother found out she was pregnant with me. My aunt, grandmother, and mom were all sitting around talking when my aunt suggested the name Harley. It was perfect. At the time my parents were building a Harley Davidson motorcycle from the ground up. Well… surprise surprise I came along and that motorcycle was no longer going to be built. I now took the slot of the Harley being built. I couldn’t be more grateful for the story of my name.

However, while as an adult I love my name it did not come without its fair share of bullying. I grew up in the early 2000’s. So as Harley Davidson motorcycles were popular by the time I entered middle school everyone thought I was named after Harley Quinn. I absolutely resented this because my name was cherished because of the story.

I’ve been told the worst pick up lines using my name having to deal with Harley Davidson and Quinn. If you are expecting parents I would highly recommend using a different spelling of the name as well as coming up with a nickname for your child. Goodness knows there wasn’t any good nicknames. I wish all the parents luck in choosing the perfect name for their child, but please consider the aging of the name before making it permanent.

Lots of love from this Harley to the next. Enjoy your name and find the beauty in every name!

Reply
Harley Gosling Nov 17 at 7:37 am

I am a non-binary person and my pronouns are They/Them He/Him and my preferred name is Harley. I love it!!

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Kaley Jan 28 at 1:32 pm

She is actually named after an angel boy named Harley! ? Harley is a name that touches everyone of my family’s hearts! We adore it our Precious girl and the angel boy himself! Harley is a beautiful girl with a heart of gold!

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- Katie Apr 9 at 6:06 am
  
  My angel baby boy is called Harley ?
  
  Reply
Teresa Jul 13 at 5:52 pm

I wanted to gave her a strong unique name. No she is not named after Harley Quinn

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Jenna Jan 29 at 12:02 pm

Harley was named by her father. He loves the first name and from the way she was kicking and moving around she is just gonna be something great!

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Randon Brewer Nov 30 at 8:48 am

She was named after my favorite villain Harley Quinn! Harley Quinn was very intelligent.. pretty… and everything you can imagine just like my little Harley Rose ??

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Krystal Oct 7 at 11:01 am

I used to ride Harley Davidsons

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Tatyana Jun 8 at 10:18 am

I am a big DC fan the jokers girlfriend name is Harley Quinn so i name her that i love her name so much

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- Kasey Huss Sep 22 at 4:20 pm
  
  OMG! I’m a huge Harley Quinn fan too!!! That’s the same reason I named my daughter Harlie! Except I loved this spelling a little more lol!!
  
  Reply
SKYLAR spring Apr 13 at 4:01 pm

We always thought we’d name our first daughter Aurora, but when one of my cousins chose that name for his second daughter, I lost interest in the name. I like my kids to have unique names. One day, while I was still pregnant, I said to my husband joking, “Hey, we should name her Harley Quinn.” Which is one of my husband’s favorite female comic book characters. He loved it and it went from being a silly suggestion to our actual name choice. My daughter was born on Christmas Day this last year 2018, and everyone we tell her name to absolutely loves it. I’ve only heard of one other person in real life named Harley Quinn and that’s Kevin Smith’s daughter. I don’t think there’s anything about our name choice that makes me unhappy. I love my baby girl’s name.

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