Fun Facts About the Name Harvey
- A favorite of earlier generations: Harvey appeared in the U.S. top 100 in 2 separate runs, totaling 60 years. Its last run lasted 1 consecutive years, from 1940 through 1940.
- More than 128 thousand babies named Harvey: U.S. records list 128,777 babies given the name Harvey from 1880 through 2025. Even 867 girls received the name Harvey - about 1 girl for every 148 boys.
What Does the Name Harvey Mean?
Harvey is an English name meaning "blazing iron," from the Old Breton personal name Huiarnviu (also recorded as Aeruiu). Its first element is hoiarn, "iron" (modern Breton houarn), and its second is viu, "bright," "lively," or "blazing" (modern Breton bev), so the literal sense is "iron" combined with "blazing." A competing explanation links the name to a Germanic original such as Herwig, formed from hari "army" and wig "battle"; that is the basis for the gloss "battle worthy" or "eager for battle" that some reference works give. Because the medieval French Hervé and the Latinized Norman Herveus could descend from either source, the precise origin remains disputed.
Harvey Name History & Origins
Harvey came into England with the Normans after the Conquest of 1066, appearing in Latin records as Herveus and in vernacular forms such as Hervi. It was used as a personal name in medieval England, and by the later Middle Ages it had also become established as an English surname (spelled both Harvey and Hervey), as was common for given names of Norman introduction.
The same name is long attested in France in the form Hervé, especially in and around Brittany, where its Breton roots lie. The English spelling Harvey and the variant Hervey both descend from this shared stock, with Hervey the older-looking spelling that survived in some families and place names.
The name has continued in use on both sides of the Atlantic as a masculine given name. Among its bearers are the American industrialist Harvey Firestone, the San Francisco politician Harvey Milk, and the actor Harvey Keitel. In American popular culture it is also the name of the invisible six-foot rabbit in Mary Chase's 1944 play Harvey and its 1950 film adaptation, a literary use that is distinct from the name's much earlier history.
How Popular is the Name Harvey?
Harvey ranked among the top 100 U.S. names from 1880 through 1938, then returned in 1940 and remained through 1940.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #6,196 | 19 | 0.0012% |
| 2024 | #5,054 | 26 | 0.0016% |
| 2023 | #5,041 | 26 | 0.0016% |
| 2022 | #6,542 | 18 | 0.0011% |
| 2021 | #6,029 | 20 | 0.0012% |
| 2020 | #7,032 | 16 | 0.0010% |
| 2019 | #8,783 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2018 | #10,077 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2017 | #6,371 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 2016 | #8,571 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2015 | #12,248 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2014 | #17,492 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2013 | #17,532 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1977 | #10,158 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1972 | #6,797 | 7 | 0.0005% |
| 1969 | #6,179 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1968 | #7,404 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1966 | #6,930 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1964 | #6,277 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1962 | #4,661 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1961 | #4,664 | 9 | 0.0004% |
| 1960 | #4,004 | 11 | 0.0005% |
| 1959 | #3,900 | 11 | 0.0005% |
| 1958 | #4,655 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1957 | #6,435 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1955 | #4,176 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1954 | #4,866 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1953 | #4,754 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1952 | #4,649 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1951 | #3,818 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1950 | #3,127 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1949 | #5,549 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1948 | #3,701 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1947 | #3,547 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1946 | #3,309 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1945 | #2,272 | 15 | 0.0011% |
| 1944 | #2,554 | 13 | 0.0010% |
| 1943 | #2,613 | 13 | 0.0009% |
| 1942 | #3,549 | 8 | 0.0006% |
| 1941 | #2,736 | 11 | 0.0009% |
| 1940 | #2,236 | 14 | 0.0012% |
| 1939 | #1,982 | 17 | 0.0016% |
| 1938 | #1,975 | 17 | 0.0015% |
| 1937 | #2,239 | 14 | 0.0013% |
| 1936 | #2,432 | 12 | 0.0012% |
| 1935 | #2,815 | 10 | 0.0010% |
| 1934 | #1,867 | 18 | 0.0017% |
| 1933 | #2,203 | 14 | 0.0014% |
| 1932 | #1,987 | 17 | 0.0016% |
| 1931 | #2,246 | 14 | 0.0013% |
| 1930 | #2,936 | 10 | 0.0009% |
| 1929 | #2,495 | 13 | 0.0012% |
| 1928 | #2,233 | 16 | 0.0014% |
| 1927 | #1,910 | 21 | 0.0018% |
| 1926 | #1,494 | 30 | 0.0025% |
| 1925 | #2,144 | 18 | 0.0015% |
| 1924 | #1,832 | 23 | 0.0018% |
| 1923 | #2,309 | 16 | 0.0013% |
| 1922 | #2,329 | 16 | 0.0013% |
| 1921 | #4,201 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1920 | #1,914 | 21 | 0.0018% |
| 1919 | #2,022 | 18 | 0.0016% |
| 1918 | #1,910 | 20 | 0.0017% |
| 1917 | #2,474 | 13 | 0.0012% |
| 1916 | #2,069 | 16 | 0.0015% |
| 1915 | #3,256 | 8 | 0.0008% |
| 1914 | #3,013 | 7 | 0.0009% |
| 1913 | #3,402 | 5 | 0.0008% |
| 1912 | #2,481 | 7 | 0.0013% |
| 1897 | #1,647 | 5 | 0.0021% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #251 | 1,381 | 0.0809% |
| 2024 | #244 | 1,441 | 0.0840% |
| 2023 | #326 | 1,028 | 0.0602% |
| 2022 | #403 | 794 | 0.0455% |
| 2021 | #421 | 733 | 0.0419% |
| 2020 | #416 | 714 | 0.0414% |
| 2019 | #404 | 773 | 0.0431% |
| 2018 | #443 | 683 | 0.0376% |
| 2017 | #383 | 856 | 0.0463% |
| 2016 | #412 | 778 | 0.0410% |
| 2015 | #439 | 697 | 0.0364% |
| 2014 | #486 | 578 | 0.0301% |
| 2013 | #614 | 406 | 0.0215% |
| 2012 | #786 | 288 | 0.0152% |
| 2011 | #852 | 250 | 0.0132% |
| 2010 | #1,027 | 189 | 0.0099% |
| 2009 | #1,050 | 181 | 0.0091% |
| 2008 | #1,214 | 145 | 0.0071% |
| 2007 | #1,172 | 151 | 0.0073% |
| 2006 | #1,180 | 143 | 0.0070% |
| 2005 | #1,035 | 162 | 0.0081% |
| 2004 | #1,054 | 153 | 0.0077% |
| 2003 | #1,104 | 139 | 0.0070% |
| 2002 | #1,085 | 138 | 0.0071% |
| 2001 | #1,076 | 134 | 0.0069% |
| 2000 | #940 | 162 | 0.0082% |
| 1999 | #990 | 143 | 0.0074% |
| 1998 | #991 | 139 | 0.0073% |
| 1997 | #903 | 153 | 0.0081% |
| 1996 | #922 | 142 | 0.0075% |
| 1995 | #920 | 145 | 0.0076% |
| 1994 | #813 | 170 | 0.0088% |
| 1993 | #788 | 180 | 0.0092% |
| 1992 | #790 | 177 | 0.0089% |
| 1991 | #737 | 191 | 0.0095% |
| 1990 | #693 | 214 | 0.0104% |
| 1989 | #656 | 232 | 0.0116% |
| 1988 | #579 | 254 | 0.0133% |
| 1987 | #619 | 216 | 0.0116% |
| 1986 | #650 | 189 | 0.0103% |
| 1985 | #576 | 233 | 0.0126% |
| 1984 | #589 | 206 | 0.0114% |
| 1983 | #519 | 259 | 0.0144% |
| 1982 | #538 | 254 | 0.0140% |
| 1981 | #496 | 285 | 0.0159% |
| 1980 | #501 | 284 | 0.0159% |
| 1979 | #479 | 298 | 0.0173% |
| 1978 | #444 | 320 | 0.0195% |
| 1977 | #449 | 319 | 0.0194% |
| 1976 | #429 | 327 | 0.0208% |
| 1975 | #424 | 339 | 0.0217% |
| 1974 | #370 | 425 | 0.0270% |
| 1973 | #386 | 401 | 0.0257% |
| 1972 | #373 | 443 | 0.0273% |
| 1971 | #363 | 495 | 0.0280% |
| 1970 | #347 | 542 | 0.0292% |
| 1969 | #323 | 577 | 0.0323% |
| 1968 | #300 | 630 | 0.0362% |
| 1967 | #294 | 623 | 0.0357% |
| 1966 | #290 | 661 | 0.0371% |
| 1965 | #279 | 722 | 0.0388% |
| 1964 | #262 | 865 | 0.0434% |
| 1963 | #257 | 887 | 0.0437% |
| 1962 | #260 | 859 | 0.0415% |
| 1961 | #252 | 958 | 0.0451% |
| 1960 | #252 | 1,001 | 0.0470% |
| 1959 | #245 | 1,082 | 0.0507% |
| 1958 | #224 | 1,178 | 0.0555% |
| 1957 | #209 | 1,278 | 0.0592% |
| 1956 | #198 | 1,379 | 0.0652% |
| 1955 | #200 | 1,289 | 0.0626% |
| 1954 | #182 | 1,460 | 0.0716% |
| 1953 | #172 | 1,535 | 0.0778% |
| 1952 | #165 | 1,594 | 0.0820% |
| 1951 | #159 | 1,642 | 0.0872% |
| 1950 | #147 | 1,811 | 0.1012% |
| 1949 | #142 | 1,936 | 0.1091% |
| 1948 | #138 | 2,004 | 0.1142% |
| 1947 | #131 | 2,207 | 0.1206% |
| 1946 | #125 | 2,058 | 0.1267% |
| 1945 | #116 | 1,974 | 0.1467% |
| 1944 | #118 | 1,951 | 0.1432% |
| 1943 | #111 | 2,244 | 0.1572% |
| 1942 | #107 | 2,284 | 0.1654% |
| 1941 | #106 | 2,017 | 0.1642% |
| 1940 | #98 | 2,088 | 0.1801% |
| 1939 | #102 | 1,946 | 0.1758% |
| 1938 | #99 | 2,051 | 0.1849% |
| 1937 | #95 | 2,081 | 0.1951% |
| 1936 | #97 | 1,970 | 0.1899% |
| 1935 | #99 | 1,958 | 0.1880% |
| 1934 | #99 | 1,934 | 0.1873% |
| 1933 | #97 | 1,896 | 0.1912% |
| 1932 | #95 | 2,030 | 0.1944% |
| 1931 | #93 | 1,978 | 0.1903% |
| 1930 | #92 | 2,062 | 0.1879% |
| 1929 | #90 | 2,063 | 0.1918% |
| 1928 | #90 | 2,187 | 0.1975% |
| 1927 | #94 | 2,201 | 0.1953% |
| 1926 | #90 | 2,128 | 0.1916% |
| 1925 | #88 | 2,190 | 0.1963% |
| 1924 | #88 | 2,242 | 0.1979% |
| 1923 | #91 | 2,115 | 0.1930% |
| 1922 | #88 | 2,207 | 0.2028% |
| 1921 | #87 | 2,287 | 0.2076% |
| 1920 | #87 | 2,165 | 0.2034% |
| 1919 | #85 | 2,028 | 0.2069% |
| 1918 | #88 | 2,111 | 0.2083% |
| 1917 | #90 | 1,808 | 0.1954% |
| 1916 | #92 | 1,763 | 0.1981% |
| 1915 | #95 | 1,613 | 0.1901% |
| 1914 | #95 | 1,250 | 0.1909% |
| 1913 | #93 | 1,028 | 0.2006% |
| 1912 | #91 | 875 | 0.2035% |
| 1911 | #91 | 446 | 0.1974% |
| 1910 | #89 | 382 | 0.1967% |
| 1909 | #83 | 361 | 0.2201% |
| 1908 | #82 | 339 | 0.2196% |
| 1907 | #77 | 335 | 0.2282% |
| 1906 | #72 | 351 | 0.2636% |
| 1905 | #85 | 286 | 0.2162% |
| 1904 | #79 | 300 | 0.2342% |
| 1903 | #74 | 293 | 0.2457% |
| 1902 | #82 | 264 | 0.2152% |
| 1901 | #76 | 253 | 0.2376% |
| 1900 | #81 | 322 | 0.2140% |
| 1899 | #79 | 251 | 0.2363% |
| 1898 | #74 | 284 | 0.2315% |
| 1897 | #72 | 268 | 0.2377% |
| 1896 | #70 | 292 | 0.2442% |
| 1895 | #70 | 282 | 0.2402% |
| 1894 | #67 | 293 | 0.2531% |
| 1893 | #68 | 284 | 0.2529% |
| 1892 | #69 | 298 | 0.2442% |
| 1891 | #65 | 274 | 0.2708% |
| 1890 | #65 | 296 | 0.2666% |
| 1889 | #64 | 311 | 0.2812% |
| 1888 | #62 | 334 | 0.2764% |
| 1887 | #65 | 262 | 0.2584% |
| 1886 | #60 | 310 | 0.2798% |
| 1885 | #59 | 304 | 0.2820% |
| 1884 | #53 | 358 | 0.3128% |
| 1883 | #53 | 318 | 0.3039% |
| 1882 | #61 | 300 | 0.2639% |
| 1881 | #58 | 282 | 0.2799% |
| 1880 | #51 | 344 | 0.3113% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Explore Name Lists Featuring Harvey
Carl appears in several baby name collections based on U.S. popularity records, naming trends, and name characteristics. Explore these lists to discover other names with similar histories, styles, or features.
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How the Name Harvey Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You attract success and money. You are a lover of nature and do not need others for your happiness. You are self sufficient. You strive for material success and power and have business sense. You possess strong organizational abilities, can be a good manager, and executive by nature. You are capable of great achievement in business and finance. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.
You are very intuitive. You have a reservoir of inspired wisdom combined with inherited analytical ability, which could reward you through expressions of spiritual leadership, business analysis, marketing, artistic visions, and scientific research. Operating on spiritual side of your individuality can bring you to the great heights, and drop you off if you neglect your spiritual identity. You are always looking for an opportunity to investigate the unknown, to use and show your mental abilities, to find the purpose and meaning of life. You want to grow wise and to understand people and things. You need privacy to replenish your energy. You have a unique way of thinking, intuitive, reflective, absorbing.
✦ Harvey's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Harvey's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.