How to say it
HAR · per
ˈhɑr.pɚ
Feminine
Harper
Harp player
What it means
An Old English occupational surname for someone who played the harp. Like Carter for cart-driving, the trade gave the family the name.
Harper held the surname role for centuries before the shift to a given name. Harper Lee, author of To Kill a Mockingbird, was probably the first famous American Harper. The Beckham family naming their daughter Harper Seven in 2011 helped accelerate the trend. Currently US top fifteen for girls, though Harper still appears occasionally for boys (historically the more common direction). Rarely shortened.
How to spell Harper
The standard spelling is Harper. Common variants include Harpyr, Harperr, but Harper is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #9 in 2018, currently #16 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Pop culture
Harper Lee (To Kill a Mockingbird) gave the surname a literary halo before it became a common girls' first name in the 2010s.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Harper Lee Novelist behind To Kill a Mockingbird
- Harper Beckham Daughter of David and Victoria Beckham, born 2011
Spelling variants
- Harpyr
- Harperr
Names with the same feeling
See Harper from another angle
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Harper mean?
- An Old English occupational surname for someone who played the harp. Like Carter for cart-driving, the trade gave the family the name.
- What does Harper mean in Old English?
- In Old English, Harper means "Harp player." Harper held the surname role for centuries before the shift to a given name. Harper Lee, author of To Kill a Mockingbird, was probably the first famous American Harper. The Beckham family naming their daughter Harper Seven in 2011 helped accelerate the trend. Currently US top fifteen for girls, though Harper still appears occasionally for boys (historically the more common direction). Rarely shortened.
- How do you pronounce Harper?
- Harper is pronounced ˈhɑr.pɚ. Say it as HAR-per, with the stress on the "har" syllable.
- How do you spell Harper?
- The standard spelling is Harper. Common spelling variants include Harpyr, Harperr.
- Is Harper a boy or girl name?
- Harper is traditionally a feminine name.
- How popular is the name Harper?
- Harper ranked #16 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.