Girl name · English
Harlow
“army hill”
Vibes
Common nicknames
Short-forms and diminutives parents often use for Harlow.
Explore Harlow further
Similar-feel alternatives, or middle-name candidates that pair well with Harlow — both ranked by the same scoring system (vibe overlap, syllable rhythm, origin compatibility).
About the name
Harlow is a place name before a person's — Old English here, army, and hlāw, hill or burial mound, so an assembly hill or a mound where a host gathered. The Essex town is one of several.
It arrived as a girls' name through Jean Harlow, whose surname it was, and climbed fast after 2008. That route — actress's surname becomes girls' first name — has produced Monroe, Marlowe and Hadley on the same pattern.
Two syllables, said HAR-lo, ending open, so it holds a consonant-heavy middle without crowding (Harlow Wren, Harlow Juniper). On our vibe map it is Modern Minimalist.
More English names
Harlow sits in our English set — these share its roots.
All English names →Harlow — common questions
Is Harlow a boy or girl name?
Harlow is traditionally a girl name of English origin.
What does the name Harlow mean?
Harlow means “army hill” of English origin. Harlow is a place name before a person's — Old English here, army, and hlāw, hill or burial mound, so an assembly hill or a mound where a host gathered. The Essex town is one of several.
Where does the name Harlow come from?
Harlow is English in origin. It arrived as a girls' name through Jean Harlow, whose surname it was, and climbed fast after 2008. That route — actress's surname becomes girls' first name — has produced Monroe, Marlowe and Hadley on the same pattern.
What are common nicknames for Harlow?
Harlo and Lo — the short-forms parents most often use for Harlow.
How popular is Harlow?
Harlow did not make the top 1,000 girls' names in US Social Security Administration data for 2025, which makes it genuinely rare in the US.
Bring the name into the room
A couple of nice things named Harlow you might want for the nursery.