The nameHarrison

Harrison is an English surname meaning "son of Harry". It is a favourite boy's name in England and Wales.

Boy's name
English

Meaning

Harrison means "son of Harry", the medieval form of Henry.

Origin

English, from a patronymic surname.

History

Two American presidents, William Henry Harrison and Benjamin Harrison, made the surname known. In the United States the name was in the top 100 in 1888 and 1889, the years of Benjamin Harrison's election and inauguration. In England and Wales it reached 30th place in 2007.

Did you know?

William Henry Harrison had the shortest presidency in American history: he died 31 days after taking office in 1841.
Harrison Ford was working as a carpenter when he was cast in Star Wars.

Famous people named Harrison

Harrison Ford, actor
Harrison Birtwistle, composer

Popularity of the name Harrison

Harrison in the United States

121stmost popular boys' name in the United States in 2024

2016peak year (3,670 births)

96,366babies named Harrison in the United States since 1880

Births per year in the United States. Source: Social Security Administration, names given at least 5 times a year.

Harrison was most popular in the United States in the 2010s, with 28,666 births over the decade, 30% of all recorded babies named Harrison. Its rise began around 1888, and it peaked in 2016. Half of all babies named Harrison in the United States were born before 2007, so it is mostly a name of today's children and teenagers. Over the last five years on record, its popularity has held steady at around 3,072 births a year.

Harrison in the United Kingdom

48thmost popular boys' name in the United Kingdom in 2025

2015peak year (2,447 births)

49,472babies named Harrison in the United Kingdom since 1997

Births per year in the United Kingdom. Source: ONS, NRS and NISRA (England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland), names given at least 3 times a year.

Harrison was most popular in the United Kingdom in the 2010s, with 22,041 births over the decade, 45% of all recorded babies named Harrison. Half of all babies named Harrison in the United Kingdom were born before 2012, so it is mostly a name of today's children and teenagers. Over the last five years on record, it has been falling: 1,275 births a year on average, against 1,985 in the five years before.

Harrison in Ireland

123rdmost popular boys' name in Ireland in 2025

2016peak year (57 births)

769babies named Harrison in Ireland since 1964

Births per year in Ireland. Source: Central Statistics Office, names given at least 3 times a year.

Variants and related names

Sibling names for Harrison

Names from the same generation as Harrison, whose popularity in the United States has followed a similar path.

For a sister

For a brother

How many people are named Harrison? See the counter → · What would your name be in 1950? · Name origin quiz

Harrison in our baby name lists

Frequently asked questions

What does the name Harrison mean?

Harrison means "son of Harry", the medieval form of Henry.

What is the origin of the name Harrison?

English, from a patronymic surname.

Is Harrison a girl's or a boy's name?

Harrison is a boy's name.

How popular is the name Harrison?

In 2024, Harrison was the 121st most popular name for baby boys in the United States, with 2,958 births.

What are the variants of the name Harrison?

Variants and related names of Harrison include Henri and Henry.

What are good sibling names for Harrison?

Names from the same generation, with a similar popularity in the United States: Melody, Eliza, Ruby and Sadie for a sister, Wesley, Elliot, Parker and Bryson for a brother.

Who are famous people named Harrison?

Harrison Ford, actor; Harrison Birtwistle, composer.