Harlow means army hill or rock hill in Old English — but in the modern imagination, it means one thing: Jean Harlow, the original Platinum Blonde, Hollywood's first sex symbol. Nicole Richie naming her daughter Harlow in 2008 relaunched the surname as a girl's name. It carries Old Hollywood glamour through two syllables that sound like a breathy, silver-screen whisper.
Old English here (army) + hlāw (hill/mound)→English place name/surname Harlow→given name
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Modern American roots
Harlow comes from an Old English place name combining here (army) and hlāw (hill or mound). Jean Harlow (1911–1937), born Harlean Harlow Carpenter, was Hollywood's first blonde bombshell and one of the biggest stars of the 1930s — she died tragically at 26. Nicole Richie and Joel Madden named their daughter Harlow Winter Kate in 2008, launching the surname as a girl's given name. The name entered the US charts immediately and has climbed steadily, carried by its Old Hollywood glamour and modern celebrity cachet.
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First recorded
Earliest known use: Ancient as an English place name; Jean Harlow (1911–1937) defined the name culturally; girl's given-name usage from 2008.
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Today
Harlow remains a beloved choice, ranking #327 in the US. 15,501 babies have been named Harlow since 1882.
◈ Sources: Behind the Name, Oxford Dictionary of Family Names, SSA data
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How popular is Harlow?
2021peak year
The name Harlow reached its peak in 2021, with 1,278 registrations (ranked #237). The name has actually been around since 1882 — over a century — though it took until recently to find its widest audience. Since the peak, the name has eased to around #327 today, averaging about 1,084 new babies per year. Harlow has been trending upward in recent years. Across all years on record, approximately 15,501 American babies have carried this name.
Year-by-year registrations1880–2024 · U.S. Social Security data
Harlow's Life Path 3 is the communicator's number — star power that communicates through presence. People named Harlow tend to be magnetic, glamorous, and gifted at commanding attention simply by entering a room.
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