How popular is Harper? clicky

farrellashleigh · July 2010

I have a thing about "trendy" names... I won't do it.... but I've always loved Harper. I feel like it's becoming more and more popular though. What do you think, will my daughter end up with 10 other Harper's in her class or not??[Poll]

wife1014 · July 2010

FWIW, I don't know any Olivia's other than my daughter, but know a Harper and another one on the way. Not sure what the attraction is though...it's not a very pretty name!

mrs529 · July 2010

wife1014:
FWIW, I don't know any Olivia's other than my daughter, but know a Harper and another one on the way. Not sure what the attraction is though...it's not a very pretty name!

Woah! Harsh! I love the name Harper, OP. I have only ever seen it on the Nest/Bump and don't know any IRL.

strangebird · July 2010

mrs529:
wife1014:
FWIW, I don't know any Olivia's other than my daughter, but know a Harper and another one on the way. Not sure what the attraction is though...it's not a very pretty name!
Woah! Harsh! I love the name Harper, OP. I have only ever seen it on the Nest/Bump and don't know any IRL.

LMAO. You're not going to last long here on The Bump if you think that was harsh. It was an opinion, simply expressed. Beware, you'll see much more bluntly stated opinions on these boards.

mrs529 · July 2010

strangebird:
mrs529:
wife1014:
FWIW, I don't know any Olivia's other than my daughter, but know a Harper and another one on the way. Not sure what the attraction is though...it's not a very pretty name!
Woah! Harsh! I love the name Harper, OP. I have only ever seen it on the Nest/Bump and don't know any IRL.
LMAO. You're not going to last long here on The Bump if you think that was harsh. It was an opinion, simply expressed. Beware, you'll see much more bluntly stated opinions on these boards.

Oh I have seen lots of snark and can take most. For some reason I find names to be really personal. Deciding what to name your child is a big deal to me.

wife1014 · July 2010

strangebird:
mrs529:
wife1014:

FWIW, I don't know any Olivia's other than my daughter, but know a Harper and another one on the way. Not sure what the attraction is though...it's not a very pretty name!

Woah! Harsh! I love the name Harper, OP. I have only ever seen it on the Nest/Bump and don't know any IRL.

LMAO. You're not going to last long here on The Bump if you think that was harsh. It was an opinion, simply expressed. Beware, you'll see much more bluntly stated opinions on these boards.

this! I personally think the name is awful. It screams redneck to me and living in New England the name is pronounced like Hoppa. I see the boys teasing her in teenage years with "hey, hop on this". Now was that a bit too harsh as well?

mrs529 · July 2010

wife1014:
strangebird:
mrs529:
wife1014:

FWIW, I don't know any Olivia's other than my daughter, but know a Harper and another one on the way. Not sure what the attraction is though...it's not a very pretty name!

Woah! Harsh! I love the name Harper, OP. I have only ever seen it on the Nest/Bump and don't know any IRL.

LMAO. You're not going to last long here on The Bump if you think that was harsh. It was an opinion, simply expressed. Beware, you'll see much more bluntly stated opinions on these boards.

this! I personally think the name is awful. It screams redneck to me and living in New England the name is pronounced like Hoppa. I see the boys teasing her in teenage years with "hey, hop on this". Now was that a bit too harsh as well?

LOL, to each his own.

wife1014 · July 2010

mrs529:
strangebird:
mrs529:
wife1014:

FWIW, I don't know any Olivia's other than my daughter, but know a Harper and another one on the way. Not sure what the attraction is though...it's not a very pretty name!

Woah! Harsh! I love the name Harper, OP. I have only ever seen it on the Nest/Bump and don't know any IRL.

LMAO. You're not going to last long here on The Bump if you think that was harsh. It was an opinion, simply expressed. Beware, you'll see much more bluntly stated opinions on these boards.

Oh I have seen lots of snark and can take most. For some reason I find names to be really personal. Deciding what to name your child is a big deal to me.

Then you don't come to the baby names board if it bothers you that much. This is the worst board out of all of them, you'll learn that!

mrs529 · July 2010

wife1014:
mrs529:
strangebird:
mrs529:
wife1014:

FWIW, I don't know any Olivia's other than my daughter, but know a Harper and another one on the way. Not sure what the attraction is though...it's not a very pretty name!

Woah! Harsh! I love the name Harper, OP. I have only ever seen it on the Nest/Bump and don't know any IRL.

LMAO. You're not going to last long here on The Bump if you think that was harsh. It was an opinion, simply expressed. Beware, you'll see much more bluntly stated opinions on these boards.

Oh I have seen lots of snark and can take most. For some reason I find names to be really personal. Deciding what to name your child is a big deal to me.

Then you don't come to the baby names board if it bothers you that much. This is the worst board out of all of them, you'll learn that!

Good to know, thanks! I have lurked on TTGP for a while but never here. I'll remember that when it comes time for me to venture here Stick out tongue

Ms Molly · July 2010

I like it but it's too trendy for my taste.

mols228 · July 2010

I like it! I know one little Harper and she's adorable. I had never heard of the name before, but I did recently see a post on here and a lot of people were saying how much they loved they name. I do think it's becoming popular.

strangebird · July 2010

wife1014:
mrs529:
strangebird:
mrs529:
wife1014:

FWIW, I don't know any Olivia's other than my daughter, but know a Harper and another one on the way. Not sure what the attraction is though...it's not a very pretty name!

Woah! Harsh! I love the name Harper, OP. I have only ever seen it on the Nest/Bump and don't know any IRL.

LMAO. You're not going to last long here on The Bump if you think that was harsh. It was an opinion, simply expressed. Beware, you'll see much more bluntly stated opinions on these boards.

Oh I have seen lots of snark and can take most. For some reason I find names to be really personal. Deciding what to name your child is a big deal to me.

Then you don't come to the baby names board if it bothers you that much. This is the worst board out of all of them, you'll learn that!

I don't know if we're quite as bad as TTGP, honestly. We tend to try to be polite, most of the time, although there are a great deal of opinions flying around here. TTGP can be downright hostile. I lurk over there and am frequently astounded at how often and how quickly they can and will jump on someone for the slightest "transgression." I think we're a bit nicer.

That said, if mrs529 considers baby names very personal and sacred, she will have a hard time here--in fact, I might quickly become one of the people she likes least; if I do say so myself, I'm rather blunt with my judgments and opinions: )

strangebird · July 2010

OP: Sorry we hijacked your thread! I'm not a fan of Harper, but my perception of it is that it is trendy and on the rise, although not terribly popular at the moment. I think your daughter would likely encounter one or two Harpers at her school, but not ten.

chicsub · July 2010

I liked Harper for the literary connection (but I'm just a NYC/Chicago redneck anyways Stick out tongue

). However, even though we ended up with a boy, I found the name a bit too trendy. I still think it's a cute name though.

andrea922 · July 2010

Are you a big literary person? With a Holden and then a Harper I think people will think that you are, so if you aren't it would seem odd to me.

lovemytwoboys · July 2010

I voted for the first option on your poll for the "super trendy" part of it. I don't necessarily think the second part about it being too popular is true. I find it to be trendy but not necessarily a Top 10 name next year or anything.

I'm not a fan. I agree with pp that it just doesn't sound pretty to me.

Oh, and I know one baby Harper.

TheSkimmy · July 2010

I know a Harper but it's a 2 year old boy.

strangebird · July 2010

I'm trying to avoid working, so I checked on Harper's trend for the past five years:

2005-position 744/1000, 361 babies

moved up 236 places

2006-position 508/1000, 597 babies

moved up 69 places

2007-position 439/1000, 727 babies

moved up 143 places

2008-position 296/1000, 1123 babies

moved up 122 places

2009-position 174/1000, 1885 babies

It moves up in the ranks an average of 142 places each year; however, it's nearly the top 100, and those names change positions at a much slower rate. I would estimate it to be in the Top 100-125 names for 2010 if it continues upward; which is an approximate 2000 baby girls named Harper in 2010.

If you break that down by state, that's about 40 girls per State. Take that versus Isabella and Madeline (and all their variations) which average out to 617 and 585 baby girls per state, respectively.

ZTAsunshine · July 2010

I do not know any little girls named Harper. I do know two little boys wtih this name though. It may be cute for a girl but I am having a hard time picturing it.

plunderb · July 2010

andrea922:
Are you a big literary person? With a Holden and then a Harper I think people will think that you are, so if you aren't it would seem odd to me.

Agree. Make sure you brush up on your mid-20th-century literature before naming your daughter Harper because people will assume you are really into it!

JennaNAaron · July 2010

I adore the name Harper. I'm not a literary freak either. I only know one Harper and it is an adult female.

CactusGirl · July 2010

I LOVE the name Harper and I want to name my future little girl that. However, I am afraid by the time I actually have a little girl that there may be too many Harpers..

still_a_bride · July 2010

I really like Harper! I haven't met anyone with this name. My favorite thing about it - it's the name of Harper Lee, author of "To Kill a Mockingbird."

MichelleL1118 · July 2010

Until 3 years ago, I knew exactly one Harper, and she was in graduate school with me. However, of the 7 girls I know who were born in the last 3 years, 3 are named Harper. So I definitely think it's growing in popularity, but I don't think it's so popular that there will be 10 of them in a classroom any time soon.

moonfaerie · July 2010

wife1014:
Not sure what the attraction is though...it's not a very pretty name!

I thought I was the only person who felt this way! Anyhoo, OP, the name is trendy and gaining popularity, but I don't think classrooms are crawling with Harpers yet. I see it on TB a lot but have yet to meet a LO with the name.It is on the list of fastest-rising boys' names, however, if that makes a difference to you. Not very often you see a name cross over from girl to boy.

https://www.parentdish.com/2010/07/13/the-hottest-baby-names-of-2010/

alohamora · July 2010

lovemytwoboys:
I voted for the first option on your poll for the "super trendy" part of it. I don't necessarily think the second part about it being too popular is true. I find it to be trendy but not necessarily a Top 10 name next year or anything.

I agree - there's a difference between trendy and popular, imo. Popular means it's used a lot (which I'm not sure is so true about Harper, at least not right now), and trendy means that it has a time stamp, some kind of features that make you say, "oh, this is a 2010 name." I do think Harper is trendy.

ademc05 · July 2010

I really don't like it and don't know others do. It just reminds me of a stalker or a nagging person.

wife1014 · July 2010

fitzpemberley:
lovemytwoboys:

I voted for the first option on your poll for the "super trendy" part of it. I don't necessarily think the second part about it being too popular is true. I find it to be trendy but not necessarily a Top 10 name next year or anything.

I agree - there's a difference between trendy and popular, imo. Popular means it's used a lot (which I'm not sure is so true about Harper, at least not right now), and trendy means that it has a time stamp, some kind of features that make you say, "oh, this is a 2010 name." I do think Harper is trendy.

I've been trying to say this exact thing for months...some just don't get it!

{lovebird} · July 2010

andrea922:
Are you a big literary person? With a Holden and then a Harper I think people will think that you are, so if you aren't it would seem odd to me.

I agree with this. Also, fwiw- I know an adult woman named Harper and 2 boy babies with the name, so it is a unisex name.

MrsRoy07 · July 2010

I actually like it, which I'm surprised about!

I don't think I'd name my kid it, but I think it's cute. I don't know any Harpers at all.

Smudges*Mom · July 2010

I like it a lot, though it does seem to be gaining in popularity. If you think Harper is getting too popular, what about Harlow? I love that name (DH did not) but I have to admit that Nicole Ritchie kind of put a damper on my enthusiasm. Good luck finding a name you both love!

anna7602 · July 2010

Maybe it's a regional thing, but I know a ton of baby Harpers here in NYC. I think it's cute, but I did vote popular.

GulfCoaster · July 2010

still_a_bride:
I really like Harper! I haven't met anyone with this name. My favorite thing about it - it's the name of Harper Lee, author of "To Kill a Mockingbird."

Interestingly, the author's full name is Nelle Harper Lee, although she goes by her middle name and published under her middle name. I love that book, but I don't think I'd name a daughter Harper. To me, it sounds harsh and doesn't flow off the tongue well.

To the OP, unless you're a big fan of mid-20th-century American literature, I wouldn't name a daughter Harper if you already have a son named Holden. The literary associations are so strong (Harper Lee, as mentioned above, and Holden Caulfield), that I wouldn't do it unless you really love 20th-century American literature and intend those references.

dasaher · July 2010

i personally like the name harper. i might even consider it for my own child, except for the part where my cousin already has a daughter with the same name. i love the book to kill a mockingbird and would love to use a name out of it, but none of them are names i would consider (except, of course, for harper!).

trizzie · July 2010

I love it, but it is very popular in my opinion. It was on our list and then the other night I read five blogs in a row that had a little girl named Harper. I think it is what Jackson was for boy names 3 or 4 years ago.

missmiss307 · July 2010

I like the name Harper, but it is a very Southern name and seems to be getting pretty popular. I know a couple having a boy they are naming Harper.

starlight8323 · July 2010

Here is the complete SSA info for Harper as a girl name. It just showed up for the first time in 2004, and has shot up the charts pretty quickly.

2009	174
2008	296
2007	439
2006	508
2005	744
2004	887

Simply put, this is the very definition of "trendy" to me.

Of course, there is a difference between trendy and popular. #174 is not terribly popular to me, but if you asked others on this board, they might say anything up to the top 1000 is too popular for their taste.

I don't think there will be ten other Harpers in her class, but keep in mind, it only takes one other Harper to make your DD "Harper X." Wink

wallace84 · July 2010

The only Harper I've ever met was a dog.

farrellashleigh · July 2010

Thanks for all the input, a lot of things I never thought about like the literature... ha... that is pretty funny, I never made the correlation but then again I wasn't memorizing authors and such when we were forced to read all of those books in highschool so it's obviously slipped my mind.

I just liked the fact that the "H's" would go together. And imo I think Harper is a very pretty girls name, I wouldn't call it redneck for sure lol, I mean cmon it's not like Jethro or Bubba ya'll!

But I guess we'll wait and see, if it feels right at the time we'll go with it because I agree it's gaining popularity for sure but I don't think there will be 10 other girls (or boys for that matter) in her class with the same name, unlike what happened to me!

Want a personalized experience?

How popular is Harper? clicky

Re: How popular is Harper? clicky

Choose Another Board

Search Boards