The Baby Name Wizard

Reader Contributions

Contribute to, or edit, this collection of community wisdom on the name Harper!

Comments and insights on the name Harper: | Edit

I know that what people are going for with the girl's name Harper is often a throw back to Harper Lee, author of To Kill A Mockingbird. As someone who loves that book, I love the reference. However, if you plan on bringing your little Harper to Canada, you should know that the current Prime Minister of Canada is Stephen Harper. And 99/100 people you talk to will think PM before they think TKAM. Something you might want to consider if you plan to spend a lot of time north of the border. Harper isn't a terrible PM, but there's a reason there is such a long gap between a president's (or prime minister's) reign and when their name starts being fashionable.

Personal experiences with the name Harper: | Edit

I'm the mother of a 2006 Harper... thought it was going to be one of a kind... not quite... in her pre-school class of ten, she was one of two... and one of five across the entire preschool consisting of a population of 80... I was in disbelief.

Nicknames for Harper: | Edit

Harpsichord / Harpie

Meanings and history of the name Harper: | Edit

Harp player

Famous real-life people named Harper: | Edit

Author of To Kill a Mockingbird used the pen name Harper Lee to appeal to both male and female readers with a more unisex name. Harper was actually her middle name. Her real first name was Nelle.
Stephen Harper - Current Prime Minster of Canada
Harper Seven Beckham is the daughter of David and Victoria Beckham

Harper in song, story & screen: | Edit

Harper is the name of the Mormon wife in the play Angels in America.
Harper is the name of Jennifer Stone's character on the Disney Channel's "Wizards of Waverly Place"
Harper's Island was a miniseries on CBS in 2009.