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Harrel
How to Pronounce Harrel
Pronounced HAIR-uhl /ˈhær.əl/Medium
Meaning: Harrel is a variant spelling of the surname Harrell, adopted as a first name. The surname is generally traced to the medieval personal name Harold (Old Norse Haraldr, 'army ruler') or to related Old Norse and Old English roots. As a given name its meaning is inherited from that surname line.Low
Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data
U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.
SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.
History & Origin
Harrel is a variant of the surname Harrell, used as a given name. That surname is usually traced to the old personal name Harold, from Old Norse Haraldr, 'army ruler.' As a first name Harrel appears in United States records from around 1914, with a modest high in the early 1920s.
It was always rare, given to only a couple dozen boys a year at its peak, part of the American habit of turning family surnames into first names. It faded by the 1980s and has not revived; the standard Harrell spelling is the more common surname form.
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Frequently Asked
What does the name Harrel mean?
It is a surname used as a first name, a variant of Harrell, usually traced to Harold ('army ruler').
How do you pronounce Harrel?
It's said HAIR-uhl /ˈhær.əl/, two syllables, stress on the first.
Is Harrel a boy or girl name?
Harrel is used as a boy's name.
How popular is Harrel?
It has always been rare, a surname-name given to only a couple dozen boys a year at its peak.