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Origin, Meaning, And History of Harry
The name Harry is a masculine name of Germanic origin, meaning ‘home ruler’ or ‘ruler of the household.’ It is also of English origin, with several meanings depending on interpretation. Some sources suggest it comes from the Old High German name ‘Heimerich,’ while others believe it is related to the Germanic name ‘Haimrich,’ meaning ‘household ruler.’
Harry has a long history dating back to the Middle Ages, where it was popular among royalty and nobility. It has been used by several English and Scottish kings, including the famous King Henry VIII.
While the popularity of Harry has fluctuated over time, it has always been a relatively common name. In the early 20th century, it was among the top ten most popular names in England and Wales. Since the 1880s, it has been popular in the United States.
The rise of the British royal family’s popularity has contributed to the name’s recent surge in popularity. Prince Harry, also known as Prince Henry of Wales, has helped popularize the name in recent years.
Variations of the name include Harold (Old English), Harrison (English), Henrik (Scandinavian), Harri (Welsh), Harald (Scandinavian), Hank (United States), Hal (England), Enrique (Spanish), Heinrich (German), Hervé (French), and Arrigo (Italian). There are several common nicknames for Harry, including Har, Haz, Hank, Harold, Hal, Harris, Hariboy, Haribo, and Harizzle.
The name has also featured in literature, most notably in J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series, contributing to its continued popularity. Other famous fictional characters with the name include Harry Dresden, the protagonist of the Dresden Files book series; Harry Bosch, the main character in the Bosch book series; Harry Callahan, the main character in the Dirty Harry film series; Harry Wormwood, a character in the Matilda book and film; Harry Goldfarb, a character in the Requiem for a Dream film; and Harry Dunne, one of the main characters in the Dumb and Dumber film series.
How To Pronounce Harry?
Famous People With The Name Harry
- Harry S. TrumanThe 33rd president of the US, served from 1945 to 1953.
- Harry Stewart Fleetwood AndrewsEnglish actor, winner of National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actor.
- Harry Bateman FRSEnglish mathematician with a specialty in differential equations of mathematical physics
- Harry AngpingFilipino politician, also a former chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission.
- Harry BelafonteAmerican singer, songwriter, actor and social activist, his album Calypso (1956) was the first million-selling LP by a single artist.
Harry On The Popularity Chart
The popularity of the name Harry has gradually declined over the years. The graphical representations given below provide more information.
Popularity Over Time
It was a popular name in the early 20th century, but its usage declined in the latter half of the century.
Source: Social Security AdministrationRank Over Time
The name saw a steady decline in ranking from the late 80s onwards. From 12345 in 1983, the name’s ranking slipped to 21150 in 2007.
Source: Social Security AdministrationNames With Similar Sound As Harry
If you liked the sound of Harry and are looking for names with similar sound, here is a list of options.
Names With Similar Meaning As Harry
If the meaning of the name Harry appeals to you but you want to explore other possibilities, take a look at this list of names with similar meaning.
Name Numerology For Harry
