Quick Answer
Hailee Steinfeld and Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen have named their first child Harper Haize Allen. Steinfeld revealed the name on Friday, June 19, 2026 in issue 90 of her Substack newsletter, Beau Society, in an open letter addressed directly to her daughter.
The couple confirmed Harper's birth back on April 2, 2026, less than a year after their May 2025 wedding in Santa Barbara. The name had been kept private through Mother's Day and the first weeks of NFL offseason coverage.
Harper is a classic English name traditionally meaning harp player. Haize is a contemporary spelling of Haze, mirroring the soft, dreamy "Baby Beau" aesthetic that Steinfeld has used across Beau Society since January 2026.
How the name was revealed
Steinfeld did not go through People magazine, a glossy Vogue spread, or a tightly choreographed Instagram carousel. Instead she chose Beau Society, the personal Substack newsletter she launched in January 2024, as the venue for the announcement.
The piece is titled "A letter to my daughter," dated June 19, 2026, and addressed straight to Harper rather than to readers. The letter blends the soft awe of new motherhood with small, specific details: late night nursing, the slow art of transferring a sleeping baby from chest to crib, the precise softness of newborn hair.
The final sentence of the letter is also the moment Steinfeld first publicly uses her daughter's full name: "Even though I know I am meant to guide you through this life, Harper Haize Allen, the truth is that already, you have taught me far more than I could ever teach you."
What the name means
- Harper. An English occupational surname turned popular first name meaning "harp player." It has been a top 20 girls' name in the United States every year since 2013, peaking around the early 2020s.
- Haize. A modern spelling of Haze. It is rare as a given name and reads as a style choice rather than a family tribute. The Z gives it a quietly contemporary edge, similar to names like Maeve, Wren, and Sloan that have trended with millennial parents.
- Allen. Her father's surname, the most recognisable name in Buffalo Bills history right now and one of the most recognisable in the entire NFL.
The Steinfeld and Allen timeline
The pair first sparked public dating rumours in spring 2023, after years of low key sightings. A short summary of the milestones since:
- May 2024. Steinfeld and Allen confirmed their engagement after Allen proposed during a private trip.
- May 31, 2025. The couple married in a small ceremony in Santa Barbara, California, attended mostly by family and a handful of close friends.
- Late 2025. Steinfeld confirmed her pregnancy on Beau Society in a typically understated post.
- April 2, 2026. Harper's birth confirmed publicly via short social posts from both parents.
- May 11, 2026. First Mother's Day shared, with cropped photos showing tiny hands and a patterned onesie but no face or name.
- June 19, 2026. Beau Society issue 90 reveals the name Harper Haize Allen.
Why the Substack route makes sense
Steinfeld has spent the last two years quietly reshaping how she does celebrity communication. Beau Society started as a personal style and reading list newsletter and has grown into the primary place she shares life news in her own voice, on her own schedule, free from the photo licensing economics of paparazzi tabloid culture.
Announcing the name there does three things at once. It puts the message in front of an audience that has already opted in. It keeps the framing personal rather than transactional. And it denies tabloid outlets the exclusive photo deal that would normally come with a baby reveal.
How fans and media reacted
The Beau Society post drew several hundred likes and dozens of comments within hours of publication, and was picked up the same evening by Us Weekly, Sports Illustrated, and the Buffalo Bills' own coverage outlets. Bills fans on social media leaned into the moment, with many noting that Allen has been visibly more relaxed in his offseason media appearances since becoming a father.
What Steinfeld and Allen are up to next
Allen is preparing for the Bills' 2026 training camp, which opens in late July at St. John Fisher University in Pittsford, New York. Steinfeld is balancing maternity leave with the slow rollout of new music and the continued weekly cadence of Beau Society. Neither has confirmed a public appearance or red carpet date that would feature Harper.
Frequently asked questions
When was Harper Haize Allen born?
April 2, 2026, as confirmed by Hailee Steinfeld and Josh Allen at the time.
Where did Steinfeld announce the name?
Beau Society, her Substack newsletter, in issue 90 dated June 19, 2026.
What does Haize mean?
Haize is a modern spelling variant of Haze. It is rare as a given name and has no widely shared traditional meaning beyond the soft, dreamy connotations of the word itself.
How long have Steinfeld and Allen been married?
They married on May 31, 2025 in Santa Barbara, so they have been married just over a year as of the June 2026 announcement.
