Harlow

At a Glance

Meaning

A hill fortified or used by an army — though the first element is disputed and may instead mean 'rock'

Origin

Old English (place name/surname)

Gender

Neutral

Pronunciation

HAR-lohListen

Harlow is an Old English place name and surname, pronounced HAR-loh, and today it's used as a neutral name with a bold, vintage feel. You'll often see it defined online as 'meadow of the hare,' but that's not the attested history: the name actually combines Old English words for 'army' — or possibly 'rock' — with 'hlaw,' meaning hill. So the real picture is a fortified hill, not a hare's meadow.

Meaning & Origin of Harlow

Meaning: A hill fortified or used by an army — though the first element is disputed and may instead mean 'rock'.

Origin: Old English (place name/surname).

A common claim: Baby-name sites often gloss Harlow as 'meadow of the hare' or 'hare meadow.' Actually: That's not the attested etymology — Harlow actually derives from Old English words for 'army' or 'rock' plus 'hill' (hlaw), not 'hare' plus 'meadow' (leah).

Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.

How to Pronounce Harlow

Popularity of Harlow

In Social Security data going back to 1882, Harlow hit its peak at #237 in 2021, with 1,278 babies given the name that year, and has since eased to #293 in 2024 with 1,079.

Names Like Harlow

These names share Harlow’s style, era or origin.

• Avery
• Emery
• Peyton
• Everett
• Harley
• Wren

FAQ

What does the name Harlow mean?

A hill fortified or used by an army — though the first element is disputed and may instead mean ‘rock’. (Source: Wiktionary)

How do you pronounce Harlow?

Harlow is pronounced HAR-loh (IPA: /ˈhɑːrloʊ/).

Is Harlow a popular name right now?

Harlow peaked at #237 in 2021 and is ranked #293 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1882–2024.)

Make Harlow Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Harlow, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.