The nameHarry
Harry is a boy's name of Germanic origin, the old English form of Henry, meaning "ruler of the home". It was the top boys' name in England and Wales in 2011 and 2012.
- Boy's name
- English
- Feast day
Meaning
Harry comes from Henry, from the Germanic Heimirich, "ruler of the home".
Origin
English. In the Middle Ages, Henry was pronounced Harry, the form used for Shakespeare's Henry V, called "Harry" by his soldiers.
History
Harry was in the American top 10 in the late 19th century. In Britain it came back with Prince Harry, born in 1984, and Harry Potter, and it ranked first in England and Wales in 2011 and 2012.
Did you know?
- The escape artist Harry Houdini was born Erik Weisz.
- The first Harry Potter book was turned down by about a dozen publishers before it came out in 1997.
- Harry Kane is England's all time top scorer.
Famous people named Harry
- Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex
- Harry Houdini, illusionist
- Harry Styles, singer
- Harry Kane, footballer
- Harry Potter, hero of J. K. Rowling
Popularity of the name Harry
Harry in the United States
Harry was most popular in the United States in the 1920s, with 86,694 births over the decade, 20% of all recorded babies named Harry. Half of all babies named Harry in the United States were born before 1929, so it is mostly a great-grandparents' generation name. Over the last five years on record, its popularity has held steady at around 346 births a year.
Harry in the United Kingdom
Harry was most popular in the United Kingdom in the 2010s, with 61,536 births over the decade, 42% of all recorded babies named Harry. Half of all babies named Harry in the United Kingdom were born before 2010, so it is mostly a name of today's children and teenagers. Over the last five years on record, it has been falling: 2,385 births a year on average, against 4,775 in the five years before.
Harry in Ireland
Harry in France
Harry in Belgium
Harry in Norway
Variants and related names
Sibling names for Harry
Names from the same generation as Harry, whose popularity in the United States has followed a similar path.
How many people are named Harry? See the counter → · What would your name be in 1950? · Name origin quiz
Compare Harry with another name
Meaning, origin and popularity of Harry side by side with the name of your choice.
Harry in our baby name lists
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Harry mean?
Harry comes from Henry, from the Germanic Heimirich, "ruler of the home".
What is the origin of the name Harry?
English. In the Middle Ages, Henry was pronounced Harry, the form used for Shakespeare's Henry V, called "Harry" by his soldiers.
Is Harry a girl's or a boy's name?
Harry is a boy's name.
How popular is the name Harry?
In 2024, Harry was the 778th most popular name for baby boys in the United States, with 322 births.
What are the variants of the name Harry?
Variants and related names of Harry include Henry.
What are good sibling names for Harry?
Names from the same generation, with a similar popularity in the United States: Robyn, Hana, Irene and Salma for a sister, Stanley, Nelson, Alfred and Rudy for a brother.
Who are famous people named Harry?
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex; Harry Houdini, illusionist; Harry Styles, singer; Harry Kane, footballer.