Comments for the name Harper

I recently heard of little girls named Harper. With all the pretty, feminine names out there, why would you name your daughter Harper? It sounds manly to me. Sorry to people with daughters named Harper.

I agree: there are so many better choices for girls' names--why would you give your beautiful baby girl a name that sounds like a boy's name?

I think Harper's a beautiful name for a girl-- particlarly if you're from the South or have Southern heritage. Add to that the influence of Harper Lee, the (female) author of 'To Kill A Mockingbird' and you've got one powerful and original name for a little girl.

Well, I wouldn't say that this name is completely eccentric rubbish. Sure it goes along the lines of Jordan, Payton, Dylan and Tristan for a girl, which I cannot tolerate, but the idea of the Harp, is somewhat innovative to today's name society. However, whenever I hear this name, I instantly picture Canadian Prime Minister, Stephen Harper.

I love To Kill a Mockingbird, possibly one of the greatest novels of the twentieth century but the name Harper is a little harsh. Her real name is Nell Harper Lee. Harper is also the name of one of the main characters from Angels in America by Tony Kushner. I say give the child whatever name you like and just nickname her Scout.

So much nicer for a boy than a girl I think.

I don't know why everyone hates this name for a girl. I think it is feminine and strong for a girl. It's pretty too, like the music of a harp.

I'm surprised no one has mentioned this yet, but Harper is the name of Joe Pitt's wife in Tony Kushner's award-winning play "Angels in America." That and Harper Lee are really the only times I've seen the name used. And, having not read "To Kill a Mockingbird", I more readily associate Harper with a female than a male.

I named my daughter Harper and quite honestly I expected a few raised eyebrows. Little did I know that the name had actually made it to the top 1000 names! My daughter is almost 3 and living up to the fiercely independent connotation that the name holds. I named my daughter after Harper Lee not because I absolutely love her novel but because she has written one of the greatest American novels of all time and she has done so without sacrificing her integrity or sucumbing to the pressure of fame. I have no idea what my daughter will become in life, but I believe that it is so shallow to look at a name and judge it based solely on whether it is believed to be masculine or feminine. Sure, there are obviously more girly names out but I believe that there are few that compare with the beauty of the feminine legacy that this name carries. Are we teaching our girls that what makes us beautiful is the way we appear or what we contain?

I don't understand why everyone thinks Harper sounds very boy-ish. Is the instrument the harp ever thought of as non-feminine? No, it's very elegant sounding. If had a daughter I would like to name her Harper.

The writer Harper Lee's full name was Nelle Harper Lee. She is known for never having done an interview with the media or biographers.

Harper could be a masculine name. Not all harp-players are women, although the harp is regarded as a feminine instrument there have been some male harpers too (like Harpo Marx). I kinda feel something for it in its own way because of the harp and because it reminds me of Harpo but I'd never use it, it sounds ambiguous and seems to have some androgynous feel about it, although it's not the reason I'd never use it. I just never cared for it much or don't like it that much on either a boy or a girl. It'd be ok for a nickname but I still don't care much for it.

In the ancient world, particularly the Mediterranean, the harp (commonly known as a sambuca) was played by both men and women, so I agree it could be either a masculine or feminine name.

I think this is a horrible sounding name for a girl, like Piper. Harper always reminds me of a bird for some reason or of a harbor, not so bad but the sound still makes me nod. For a boy, maybe but that would be a lot to live up for (a harp-player) in my opinion!

I think this name fits a pet - preferly a bird, I think for some strange reason. I can't imagine anyone with this name. I've never met anyone named Harper, so I don't know.

I don't know why a lot of people look down on this name. I think it's pretty, at least in its own way. Someone I know said there's a legend of a goddess named Harperis - known better as Harper who is said to have invented the harp and is also the goddess of harpists and musical harmony. Maybe it's not a real legend at all but that's how I want to imagine it, as a mythical goddess.

In West Virginia there is a place called Harper's Ferry.

I loved this name ever since I read To Kill a Mockingbird. I find it equally suitable for both boys and girls.

It's not such a bad name, but I don't really think it suits females. There's no logical reason not to use it on females per se, but the name does have that -er ending, and most names with that ending, apart from Amber, Piper, Summer, and Winter, sound masculine. So does Harper. It sounds rather tomboyish, and thus unsuitable for feminine girls, and I can't picture it on a grown woman at all, not even on indie rockers or androgynous women. For males, this isn't too bad, but it does sound rather harsh compared to many more pleasant-sounding names like Logan, Aidan, and the likes.

To me, it sounds more like a girl's name but can equally be a boy's name too.

I wonder if a person called Harper would be called "Harpie", like the mythical bird-women. That might be cool, although Harpies do have some negative connotations.

I could not see Harper for a boy at all. I have liked (but not loved) this name for a girl since I read To Kill a Mockingbird. It would be a nice middle name for a girl, but I would not use it as a first name.

I do sort of feel something for this name, because I play the harp. But I don't really like the sound to it. I also don't think it sounds like a nice name for a girl. It's too masculine. And a lot of people are saying that it's girly because the harp is very feminine (which it is), but it can also be very masculine.

I'm surprised by the apparent aversion to this name, specifically for a female. As others have pointed out, the harp is generally viewed as a feminine instrument. Angels are often represented as harpists and carry a very heavy female connotation. Harper also has pop-culture references, such as Harper's Bazaar, a fashion magazine, which are strongly feminine. As another poster pointed out, the name also sounds similar to "Harpy", which were female mythical creatures (though I agree with the fact that calling someone a harpy is generally inflammatory).

As for the same simply sounding masculine, I don't get that at all. I have a feeling that it sounds abrasive to some people simply because of it being relatively uncommon. Others have mentioned that the "er" ending is often masculine, but then have gone on to provide incredibly feminine names that end in "er" (Amber, Piper, etc.). It is also important to consider that most popular female names began as names for men. Courtney, Ashley, and Madison are just a few, but there are plenty of others.

In my opinion, Harper is a beautiful name for a strong, independent woman, and its perceived masculinity should not scare anyone away from naming their girl it.

The name primarily makes me think of angels with harps, Harper Lee and To Kill a Mockingbird. The little girl I know of named Harper is a blonde, blue-eyed ballerina. Overall, Harper has a rather delicate, ethereal image for me, probably helped along because I've just read a series of paranormal mystery books by Charlaine Harris in which Harper Connelly is the female main character. She's an appealing character. I also see that Lisa Marie Presley named one of her newborn twin daughters Harper. I'd have a hard time seeing it on a boy. It sounds too girlish.

I tend to think of a Harper as someone who's harping on somebody all the time. That kind of ruins it.

I like that it's got an androgynous quality to it. I think it's a beautiful name.

It's an okay name, but it makes me thing of the song "Harper Valley PTA".

If you are using this as a homage to Harper Lee, try her first name, Nelle. Yeah, makes more sense. Not being a harpy just offering some advice.

I should end this here. Wouldn't want to harp on about Harper, I have a harp to play.

Harper is the name of Alex's best friend on the Disney Channel show, Wizards of Waverly Place.

I think this name is fine for a boy or a girl. Although I prefer it for a boy. I think it is great for a boy. It sounds like the name Parker, which I also like. I would like to point out that not all harpists (harp players) are female as well. Plus, not all angels are female. For example: archangels Michael and Gabriel spring to mind.

Stephen Harper is the 22nd Prime Minister of Canada and has Harper as his last name.

This name reminds me of harpies, those mythological monsters. From the dictionary: The word comes from the Greek Harpyia (pl.) meaning "snatchers". In Homer, they were the personification of whirlwinds and hurricanes; in Hesiod they were called sisters of Aello and Iris; later they were represented as ministers of divine vengeance: winged, clawed monsters with female heads and bodies. Metaphoric extension to "greedy person" is c.1400.

Harpy:
1. One of several loathsome, ravenous, filthy monsters with the head and trunk of a woman and the tail, wings, and talons of a bird.
2. A scolding, nagging, bad-tempered woman; shrew.
3. A greedy, predatory person

Also, to harp on or upon is to dwell on persistently or tediously in speaking or writing.

The dictionary also says that a "harp" or "Harper" was any of several English coins issued for use in Ireland during the 16th and 17th centuries, bearing the figure of a harp on the reverse; additionally, "harp" is a disparaging and offensive slang word for a person of Irish birth or descent.

Harper Ashby, the hero of Nora Robert's novel Red Lily and the In The Garden trilogy.

Unfortunately, every time I hear this, I think of Stephen Harper. There is nothing wrong with the name Harper, but the association puts me off.

Too feminine for a boy and too masculine on a girl.

Wow, I'm really surprised this name made the top 200. Reminds me of McKenzie, a surname that just doesn't cut it as a girl's first name. Better for a middle name.

I know a dog named Harper. Good name for pets.

David and Victoria Beckham today had their first daughter, Harper Seven Beckham.

I hate this name. I don't think it's feminine at all. Also, its usage by Lisa Marie Presley and the Beckhams (among others) makes it so trendy. I bet Harper will crack the top 100 soon.

I absolutely ADORE this name. It is my sister's name and I'm surprised by how rare it still seems to be, at least for US females. I think it is unique and joyful sounding :)

Yuck. Sounds like a name belonging to a spoiled brat with yuppie parents.

I don't get that people don't think this name is a boy name the only people that I know that had this is name is wait for it... a girl. And it means a harp player, every time someone think of a harp player it's a woman. So don't call it a boy name just because it's strong and don't have a ditsy feel to it like Madison and Ashley doesn't make it less of a name.

FEMININE: It's a sorry-sad-shame it is so common
MASCULINE: It's a sorry-sad-shame a boy HAS this name!

My daughter's name is Harper and I think it's such a beautiful, pretty name.