Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Harvey
BoyBreton, French· “battle worthy”
- Meaning
- battle worthy
- Origin
- Breton, French
- Pronunciation
- HAHR-vee
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #251
- US babies 2025
- 1,381
- Best rank
- #51 (1880)
- Peak year
- 1921
Meaning and origin of Harvey
Harvey is a Breton and French name that means “battle worthy”.
Harvey comes from the Breton name Haerviu, usually explained as "battle worthy". Saint Hervé, a blind sixth-century Breton hermit, was widely venerated in Brittany, and Breton followers of William the Conqueror brought the name to England after the Norman Conquest. William Harvey, the seventeenth-century English physician who described the circulation of the blood, carried it as a surname. Harvey was a common given name in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries and has returned as a vintage favorite, especially in Britain. It sounds warm and friendly. Harv is a possible nickname.
Other spellings with the same sound: Harvie.
Popularity over time
Harvey has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 136 different years. Its best national rank was #51 in 1880, and the most babies received it in 1921, when 2,287 were named Harvey. In 2025, 1,381 babies were named Harvey, and it ranked #251 nationally. That is 98% more than ten years earlier, so it is clearly on the rise.
Its national rank moved from #87 in 1920, #147 in 1950, #501 in 1980, #940 in 2000, #1,027 in 2010, and #251 in 2025. Of the 127,925 US boys named Harvey since records began, 17% were born in the 1920s, its biggest decade. The 1940s come next, with 20,763 babies. Since 2010, 11,598 more have been named Harvey.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Cecil, Milton, Claude, Lewis, and Virgil.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Harvey ranked highest in Vermont, Minnesota, and North Dakota.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Vermont | #59 | 8 |
| Minnesota | #63 | 88 |
| North Dakota | #79 | 14 |
| Utah | #86 | 58 |
| Wisconsin | #92 | 64 |
Gender, sound and spelling
About 98% of US babies named Harvey over the last 20 years were boys, with a small share of girls.
Harvey is usually pronounced HAHR-vee, with two syllables. It has six letters, starts with H and ends in “-ey”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Harvie.
Middle names for Harvey
A few middle names that flow with Harvey: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Harvey
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Lists that include Harvey
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Harvey mean?
Harvey is a Breton and French name that means “battle worthy”.
What is the origin of the name Harvey?
Harvey has Breton, French, and English roots. Harvey comes from the Breton name Haerviu, usually explained as "battle worthy".
Is Harvey a popular name?
Yes. Harvey ranked #251 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Harvey a boy or girl name?
Harvey is mainly a boy's name. About 98% of US babies named Harvey over the last 20 years were boys, with a small share of girls.
How do you pronounce Harvey?
Harvey is usually pronounced HAHR-vee. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings