Harvard, originating from Old English roots, means 'army' or 'strong'. It is derived from the word 'here', meaning army, and 'beorht', which translates to bright or famous. The name was historically used as a given name, but it's more commonly associated today with Harvard University in Massachusetts, United States. The university, founded in 1636, is named after its first benefactor, John Harvard.
The name Harvard has seen a fluctuating trend in popularity over the years, with a total of 604 babies named Harvard between 1912 and 2018. The name's peak occurred in 1927 and 1937 with 16 births each year. However, there were several periods where the name was scarcely used, such as between 1951 to 1966 inclusive, with only two years recording more than five births (8 in 1953 and 7 in 1959). The most recent data shows a slight resurgence in popularity, with nine births recorded in 2013.