Baby Name Popularity Profile

Harper

Data-driven SSA statistics, rankings, and historical trends for Harper.

✦ Harp player 🌍 English traditional
National Rank (2025) #16
All-Time Peak Rank #9 Achieved 2018
Total U.S. Births 139,063 since 1880
Unisex Distribution 3.5% Boy / 96.5% Girl Overwhelmingly Female
First Recorded 1971 Last seen: 2025
Peak Decade 2010s 10,803 births in 2016
💡 The Harper Vibe: Considered a Modern Trend. A contemporary choice reflecting current cultural naming rhythms and popularity brackets.

🌍 Meaning & Etymology

Primary Meaning Harp player
Language Origin English
Origin Type single
Derived from an Old English occupational surname for a harp player.
Common Nicknames
Harp
Pronunciation: HAR-per
Themes & Categories
traditional
Etymology confidence: High

📖 The Story Behind Harper

According to SSA data, Harper achieved its highest historical rank of #9 in 2018. Its highest annual registration volume occurred in 2016 with 10,803 babies. Between 2015 and 2025, modern registrations have decreased by 34.1%. Overall, the name has maintained a ranked presence for 46 consecutive years.

📊 Factual Timeline & Current Trajectory (1880 – 2025)

Registration footprint of Harper across 145 years of SSA data.

5-Year Trajectory Declining
10-Year Shift -34.1% Decline
18801920196020002025

📈 Popularity Milestones & Volatility

Busiest Year on Record 10,803 births in 2016
Years in Top 100 15 yrs
Years in Top 500 19 yrs
Registry Streak 46 yrs
Historical Volatility Highly Volatile
Largest 1-Year Jump N/A
Decade-by-Decade Registration Volumes
1880s: 0
1890s: 0
1900s: 0
1910s: 0
1920s: 0
1930s: 0
1940s: 0
1950s: 0
1960s: 0
1970s: 45
1980s: 82
1990s: 563
2000s: 5,671
2010s: 85,193
2020s: 47,509

📐 Sound & Spelling Structure

Phonetic Syllables Har-per
Letter Count 6 letters
Spelling Complexity Moderate
Length Percentile Longer than 25.7% of names
Linguistic Profile: Longer than 25.7% of SSA names. Starts with H, a letter used by only 2.2% of SSA names.

🛠️ Sibling & Surname Cadence Tool

Enter a surname or sibling name to test how it pairs with Harper.

📍 Authentic State & Regional Rankings

Highest Ranking State Alaska
Top States Alaska, Nevada, Idaho, Utah, Wyoming
States with Data 51
State 2025 Rank Total Births Peak Year 5-Yr Velocity
Alaska #21 378 2013 Insufficient historical volume
Nevada #54 889 2016 45.9% Decline
Idaho #11 1,051 2018 17.1% Decline
Utah #18 2,144 2016 20.3% Decline
Wyoming #9 339 2015 Insufficient historical volume
New Hampshire #11 743 2019 +16.7% Growth
South Dakota #8 787 2014 34.0% Decline
Colorado #12 2,780 2019 4.5% Decline
Montana #6 700 2018 +2.9% Growth
North Dakota #12 779 2014 25.7% Decline
Nebraska #3 1,513 2014 5.9% Decline
Washington #24 3,323 2018 24.5% Decline
Tennessee #8 4,378 2019 22.5% Decline
Delaware #19 406 2016 23.1% Decline
Arizona #38 2,423 2018 29.4% Decline
Oregon #13 1,788 2016 26.3% Decline
Vermont #10 335 2016 Insufficient historical volume
Kansas #8 1,974 2014 +9.6% Growth
North Carolina #14 5,320 2018 26.2% Decline
Florida #38 6,229 2019 23.1% Decline
Virginia #18 4,074 2016 31.0% Decline
Missouri #10 3,920 2015 30.4% Decline
Oklahoma #8 2,356 2017 22.7% Decline
Minnesota #13 3,190 2018 16.2% Decline
Kentucky #10 2,990 2017 30.7% Decline
Georgia #15 4,795 2019 23.9% Decline
Iowa #9 2,246 2013 10.9% Decline
Indiana #8 3,975 2017 16.3% Decline
Maine #5 724 2018 27.1% Decline
Wisconsin #11 3,216 2016 12.7% Decline
South Carolina #12 2,331 2017 22.8% Decline
Arkansas #8 1,707 2017 30.8% Decline
Alabama #7 2,826 2015 22.3% Decline
Maryland #26 2,312 2016 27.9% Decline
Texas #39 11,145 2016 25.9% Decline
Ohio #11 6,512 2017 26.5% Decline
Michigan #10 4,854 2019 24.2% Decline
Louisiana #6 2,293 2017 22.2% Decline
West Virginia #4 1,068 2016 25.3% Decline
Connecticut #22 1,224 2016 15.6% Decline
Pennsylvania #11 5,700 2019 33.9% Decline
Mississippi #12 1,275 2016 32.2% Decline
Illinois #24 4,609 2014 25.0% Decline
California #62 9,305 2016 30.5% Decline
New Jersey #34 2,491 2019 +14.4% Growth
Hawaii #37 275 2016 Insufficient historical volume
Massachusetts #45 2,120 2018 19.1% Decline
Rhode Island #55 273 2019 Insufficient historical volume
New York #37 5,418 2016 20.2% Decline
New Mexico #36 374 2016 Stable
District of Columbia #60 261 2017 Insufficient historical volume

👨‍👩‍👧 Sibling Name Suggestions

👦 Brother Suggestions
Carter Parker Colton Easton Lucas Jackson Wyatt Mason Grayson Nolan
👧 Sister Suggestions
Stella Sophie Audrey Layla Riley Sadie Paisley Kinsley Lily Ella

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