Harvey is an English given name, derived from Old German words 'hari' meaning 'army' and 'bold'. The name Harvey has been popularized by several notable individuals throughout history. One of the most famous bearers of this name is Harvey Milk, a prominent American politician and gay rights activist who was assassinated in 1978. His legacy continues to inspire social justice movements around the world.
In literature, Harvey appears as a character in various works. In James Fenimore Cooper's novel "The Last of the Mohicans," Harvey Birch is a significant character. Additionally, P.G. Wodehouse used Harvey as a name for several characters in his comedic stories set in Britain's aristocracy during the early 20th century.
In popular culture, Harvey has been the name of fictional characters like Dr. Harold "Harvey" Keitel in the TV series "Boston Legal," and Harvey Specter, a central character in the legal drama "Suits." The name also lent itself to the classic film "Harvey," starring Jimmy Stewart as Elwood P. Dowd, a man whose best friend is an invisible 6-foot-tall rabbit named Harvey.
Overall, the name Harvey carries a strong and enduring presence in various fields, from politics and literature to popular culture, reflecting its versatility and universal appeal.
The name Harvey seems to have gone through periods of popularity and decline over the years, with a notable increase starting around 1913 and peaking in 1921 and 1926 with 39 births each year. However, it fell back into relative obscurity by the mid-1930s, with fewer than 25 births per year from 1934 onwards. There was a brief resurgence in the late 1940s and early 1950s, but since then, Harvey has been relatively uncommon as a baby name. In recent years, it seems to have become somewhat more popular again, with several births recorded in 2008 and 2023. Overall, there were a total of 973 births with the name Harvey between 1881 and 2023.