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Henry

♂ Boy

Pronounced HEN-ree /ˈhɛn.ri/High

Meaning: Ruler of the home; estate ruler; lord of the houseHigh

In 30 seconds: From the Old High German for 'ruler of the home,' Henry has been the name of kings, scientists, and authors across a thousand years of history.
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Origin HighGermanic
MeaningRuler of the home; estate ruler; lord of the house
Peak year1921
Total births (all-time)≈ 679,050

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 192118802017

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

History & Origin

Henry comes from the Old High German Heimirich, composed of heim (home, estate) and rīchi (ruler, power). The Normans brought it to England as Henri after the Conquest of 1066, and it quickly became one of the most popular royal names in English history.

Eight kings of England were named Henry. The name remained consistently popular through all periods of English and American history, never falling out of the top 100 for extended periods. It has staged a particularly strong revival since the 2010s, consistently placing in the U.S. top ten.

Did you know? Eight kings of England bore the name Henry, including Henry VIII (1491–1547), who broke with the Catholic Church. No other English name has been borne by as many English monarchs.

Variations

HenriHeinrichEnriqueHenriqueHarry

Nicknames

HarryHankHal

Famous Bearers

  • ★Henry VIII (1491–1547)
    King of England who broke with Rome, establishing the Church of England.
  • ★Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
    American author and transcendentalist philosopher, known for Walden.
  • ★Henry Ford (1863–1947)
    American industrialist who founded Ford Motor Company.

If you like Henry…

James— fellow eternally popular English royal classic
William— shares the long history of English royal use
Oliver— another dignified vintage name enjoying a strong revival
Theodore— equally distinguished classic with warm nickname potential
Charles— shares the deep royal English pedigree

Frequently Asked

What does the name Henry mean?

Henry comes from Old High German Heimirich, meaning 'ruler of the home' or 'estate ruler,' combining heim (home) and richi (power).

How do you pronounce Henry?

Henry is said HEN-ree /ˈhɛn.ri/ — two syllables, with stress on the first.

Is Henry a boy or girl name?

Henry is used almost exclusively as a boy's name; the feminine equivalents are Henrietta and Harriet.

How popular is Henry?

Henry has consistently ranked in the U.S. top ten boys' names since about 2018, continuing a revival that began in the mid-2000s.