Harry

♂ Boy

Pronounced HAIR-ee /ˈhɛɹ.iː/High

Meaning: Home ruler or ruler of the estate; an English pet form of Henry or Harold, from the Germanic elements heim meaning home and ric meaning ruler or powerHigh

In 30 seconds: Harry means home ruler in Germanic, an English nickname for Henry or Harold that became a full name, carried by ten English kings, the boy wizard Harry Potter, and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex.

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Origin HighGermanic, English

MeaningHome ruler or ruler of the estate; an English pet form of Henry or Harold, from the Germanic elements heim meaning home and ric meaning ruler or power

U.S. rank (2025)#775 ↗ Rising

2025 U.S. births329 boys (0.02% of U.S. boys)

Peak year1918

Total births (all-time)≈ 423,860

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Harry is a Middle English and Old French vernacular form of Henry, which derives from the Old High German Heimiric, composed of heim (home) and ric (ruler, power). The Latin form Henricus was used formally, while Harry was the everyday spoken name. It is also a pet form of Harold, from Old Norse Haraldr.

Harry has been a common English name for over 800 years. It was enormously popular in the early 20th century, declined mid-century, then experienced a massive global revival driven by Harry Potter (from 1997) and Prince Harry. It is now one of the most popular boys names in England and Wales and is rising again in the United States.

Did you know? Harry was the medieval English vernacular form of Henry, which is why King Henry V was called Harry in Shakespeare's Henry V. Prince Hal and Good King Harry were the names by which the most celebrated English monarch was affectionately known by his own troops.

Overall data confidence 96%

Behind the Name — Harry — Germanic etymology and English usage historyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

HenryHaroldHary

Nicknames

Hal

Famous Bearers

★Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex (1984–present)
Younger son of King Charles III of the United Kingdom, who stepped back from royal duties in 2020 and moved to the United States.
★Harry Styles (1994–present)
British singer and actor, former member of One Direction, known for solo albums Fine Line and Harry's House.

If you like Harry…

Henry— the formal name of which Harry is the classic nickname

Charlie— same beloved British nickname-as-full-name with royal associations

Archie— shares the friendly British -ie nickname tradition and royal baby name status

George— fellow classic short British royal name with perennial appeal

Frequently Asked

What does the name Harry mean?

Harry means home ruler, from the Germanic elements heim (home) and ric (ruler), as the English pet form of Henry.

How do you pronounce Harry?

It is said HAIR-ee, two syllables with stress on the first.

Is Harry a nickname for Henry?

Yes, Harry is the traditional English vernacular form of Henry, though it has long been used as a full given name in its own right.

Is Harry a popular name?

Harry is one of the top boys names in England and Wales and is rising in the United States, boosted by Harry Potter and Prince Harry.