indicate the level to which a name has been verified.
Gender Feminine
Usage Popular Culture, English (Rare)
Meaning & History
A fictional name created by Paul Dini and Bruce Timm for the popular cartoon series Batman: The Animated Series. The name was given to a new character, Dr. Harleen Quinzel "Harley Quinn" (first appearing in 1992), as a play on the word harlequin, referring to her manner of dress, that of a traditional harlequin jester, a theme meant to reference that of her partner-in-crime, Batman's arch-nemesis Joker. The name itself can be seen as a combination of Harley and the popular name suffix -lene (compare Harlene).