Namewise

Harper vs Meredith

Harper and Meredithcompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.

Head to head

Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2024, Harper was ranked #22 and Meredith #638 among girls in England and Wales.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls

    In 2020, Harper was ranked #56 and Meredith #333 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2024, Harper was ranked #63 and Meredith #898 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

Harper and Meredith over time

Harper and Meredith appear together in 1 published list, across 23 years of shared records. Harper held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Meredith in 0.

The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.

Meredith reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Harper in none. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.

Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.

List by list

  • England and Wales · Girls23 shared years, 20012024

    Harper held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Meredith in 10.

    Highest recorded here: Harper #22 in 2023, Meredith #491 in 2017.

    The order changed in 2012: Harper moved ahead. In 2011 they stood at #858 and #645; by 2012 that had become #284 and #701.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Harper #22, Meredith #638.

Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Harper, Meredith
FieldHarperMeredith
Record typeEditorially researched profileOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningAn English occupational surname for someone who played or made harps, from Old English 'hearpe'. Popularized as a given name partly through author Harper Lee, who wrote To Kill a Mockingbird.Not yet recorded
OriginEnglish (occupational surname)Not yet recorded
Pronunciation/ˈhɑɹ.pəɹ/Not yet recorded
Syllables23
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZGB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE
Most recent popularity observationNew South Wales, Australia · Girls #15 (2025)England and Wales · Girls #638 (2024)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/100Not yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)88/10076/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Harper has a recorded origin (English (occupational surname)); Meredith does not have one recorded yet.
  • Harper has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Meredith.
  • A meaning is recorded for Harper; Meredith doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.

How each name got here

Harper

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1999

    First recorded at #2425 among boys in England and Wales in 1999 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    England and Wales · Boys

  2. Highest recorded2012–2023

    Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in New Zealand, in 2017 (recorded 2012–2023).

    New Zealand · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #15 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.

    New South Wales, Australia · Girls

Meredith

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1996

    First recorded at #753 among girls in England and Wales in 1996 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    England and Wales · Girls

  2. Highest recorded2016–2020

    Highest recorded position: #333 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 2020 (recorded 2016–2020).

    Northern Ireland · Girls

  3. Most recent2024

    Most recently recorded at #638 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.

    England and Wales · Girls