Girl, also used for boys · Old English (occupational surname) · International
Harper
HarperSay it HAR-per
- Meaning
- A harper, a harp player Bosworth-Toller, entry 18527
- Say it
- HAR-per
- Other spellings
- Harpur
Harper
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Harper meaning
Harper is an international girl's name of Old English origin (occupational surname), also used for boys.
A harper, a harp player
Harper is an English surname for a harp player. It goes back to Old English hearpere, which Bosworth-Toller's dictionary defines simply as "a harper", from hearpe, "harp". Its best-known bearer is Harper Lee, the American author of To Kill a Mockingbird, whose full name was Nelle Harper Lee. It began as a surname and is now a first name for girls as well as boys. Indian families may enjoy its musical meaning, like the Sanskrit-derived Sangeeta or Veena.
Source: Bosworth-Toller, An Anglo-Saxon Dictionary (1898), entry 18527 · entry hearpere · See the entry · checked 25 Oct 2026
References: Bosworth-Toller, hearpere · Wikipedia, Harper Lee
Famous namesakes
- Harper Lee, American author of To Kill a Mockingbird
Popularity abroad
- #16 United States, girls 2025 (down 4 from 12 in 2024)
US Social Security Administration - #23 England and Wales, girls 2025
Office for National Statistics
Official birth registrations. India publishes no national name statistics.
Spellings
Harper · Harpur