Fun Facts About the Name Harry
- An all-time favorite: U.S. records show 423,860 boys named Harry from 1880 through 2025.
- Decades of popularity: Harry stayed in the U.S. top 100 for 78 consecutive years, from 1880 through 1957.
- More than 425 thousand babies named Harry: U.S. records list 425,878 babies given the name Harry from 1880 through 2025. Even 2,018 girls received the name Harry - about 1 girl for every 210 boys.
What Does the Name Harry Mean?
Harry is an English form of Henry, a name derived from the Germanic Haimric. Its established meaning is "home ruler" or "ruler of the home." The Germanic name is composed of haim, meaning "home," and ric, meaning "ruler, power." The literal sense is therefore "ruler of the home" or "home ruler." The name Harry is not derived from the English verb harry, meaning "to harass," which comes from Old English hergian. In modern use, Harry also serves as a short form of Harold and other names beginning with Har-, but its own etymology is from Henry.
Harry Name History & Origins
The name Henry was brought to England by the Normans after the Norman Conquest of 1066. It came from Old French Henri, which descended from Latin Henricus, itself from the Frankish name Haimric. In Middle English, the name appeared in forms such as Henry, Harry, and Herry. Harry became a common vernacular form of Henry in medieval England and was also used as an independent given name. It was used as a familiar form of Henry, the name of several English kings; for example, Shakespeare calls Henry V "Harry" in Henry IV and Henry V, and Harry Percy is a name for Hotspur in the same plays. The fictional wizard Harry Potter is a well-known modern literary bearer, but the name long predates that character.
How Popular is the Name Harry?
Harry remained among the top 100 boy names in the U.S. from 1880 to 1957. Its highest annual birth count was in 1918, and people born that year turn 108 in 2026.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | #8,678 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1987 | #11,945 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1985 | #7,156 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1984 | #8,466 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1983 | #5,945 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 1982 | #7,714 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1981 | #10,961 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1980 | #7,644 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1979 | #6,900 | 9 | 0.0006% |
| 1978 | #5,687 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 1977 | #6,524 | 9 | 0.0006% |
| 1976 | #5,739 | 10 | 0.0007% |
| 1975 | #4,678 | 13 | 0.0009% |
| 1974 | #4,097 | 15 | 0.0010% |
| 1973 | #6,909 | 7 | 0.0005% |
| 1972 | #4,378 | 13 | 0.0009% |
| 1971 | #6,211 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1970 | #4,860 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1969 | #4,536 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 1968 | #4,080 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1967 | #4,137 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 1966 | #4,626 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1965 | #4,307 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1964 | #4,192 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1963 | #3,689 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1962 | #5,021 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1961 | #2,999 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 1960 | #2,600 | 22 | 0.0011% |
| 1959 | #3,160 | 15 | 0.0007% |
| 1958 | #3,012 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1957 | #3,081 | 15 | 0.0007% |
| 1956 | #3,106 | 15 | 0.0007% |
| 1955 | #2,882 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1954 | #2,934 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1953 | #3,175 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1952 | #2,719 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1951 | #2,734 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1950 | #2,381 | 18 | 0.0011% |
| 1949 | #2,554 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1948 | #2,212 | 20 | 0.0012% |
| 1947 | #2,684 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1946 | #1,933 | 23 | 0.0015% |
| 1945 | #1,847 | 21 | 0.0016% |
| 1944 | #1,826 | 22 | 0.0017% |
| 1943 | #1,810 | 23 | 0.0016% |
| 1942 | #1,934 | 20 | 0.0015% |
| 1941 | #1,579 | 25 | 0.0021% |
| 1940 | #1,993 | 17 | 0.0015% |
| 1939 | #2,070 | 16 | 0.0015% |
| 1938 | #1,830 | 19 | 0.0017% |
| 1937 | #1,597 | 23 | 0.0022% |
| 1936 | #1,526 | 24 | 0.0023% |
| 1935 | #1,250 | 33 | 0.0031% |
| 1934 | #1,729 | 20 | 0.0019% |
| 1933 | #1,381 | 28 | 0.0028% |
| 1932 | #1,135 | 40 | 0.0037% |
| 1931 | #1,234 | 35 | 0.0033% |
| 1930 | #1,119 | 44 | 0.0039% |
| 1929 | #924 | 60 | 0.0054% |
| 1928 | #963 | 60 | 0.0052% |
| 1927 | #1,026 | 56 | 0.0047% |
| 1926 | #1,037 | 52 | 0.0044% |
| 1925 | #1,154 | 45 | 0.0037% |
| 1924 | #1,213 | 43 | 0.0034% |
| 1923 | #1,060 | 52 | 0.0043% |
| 1922 | #1,176 | 43 | 0.0036% |
| 1921 | #1,022 | 54 | 0.0044% |
| 1920 | #1,109 | 46 | 0.0038% |
| 1919 | #1,202 | 39 | 0.0035% |
| 1918 | #1,157 | 42 | 0.0036% |
| 1917 | #1,224 | 35 | 0.0032% |
| 1916 | #1,007 | 47 | 0.0045% |
| 1915 | #1,379 | 27 | 0.0027% |
| 1914 | #1,279 | 24 | 0.0032% |
| 1913 | #1,193 | 22 | 0.0035% |
| 1912 | #1,065 | 24 | 0.0043% |
| 1911 | #1,407 | 12 | 0.0029% |
| 1910 | #1,687 | 9 | 0.0023% |
| 1909 | #1,521 | 9 | 0.0026% |
| 1908 | #1,746 | 7 | 0.0021% |
| 1907 | #1,243 | 11 | 0.0035% |
| 1906 | #1,015 | 14 | 0.0047% |
| 1905 | #1,119 | 12 | 0.0041% |
| 1904 | #1,307 | 9 | 0.0033% |
| 1903 | #1,252 | 9 | 0.0034% |
| 1902 | #1,094 | 11 | 0.0042% |
| 1901 | #1,265 | 8 | 0.0033% |
| 1900 | #1,637 | 7 | 0.0023% |
| 1898 | #1,806 | 5 | 0.0019% |
| 1897 | #1,114 | 9 | 0.0038% |
| 1896 | #1,013 | 11 | 0.0046% |
| 1895 | #834 | 15 | 0.0064% |
| 1894 | #1,025 | 10 | 0.0045% |
| 1893 | #672 | 19 | 0.0089% |
| 1892 | #932 | 11 | 0.0052% |
| 1891 | #966 | 9 | 0.0049% |
| 1890 | #803 | 12 | 0.0063% |
| 1889 | #1,363 | 5 | 0.0028% |
| 1888 | #741 | 13 | 0.0073% |
| 1887 | #647 | 13 | 0.0089% |
| 1886 | #585 | 15 | 0.0104% |
| 1885 | #672 | 11 | 0.0083% |
| 1884 | #550 | 15 | 0.0116% |
| 1883 | #858 | 6 | 0.0053% |
| 1882 | #496 | 14 | 0.0130% |
| 1880 | #785 | 6 | 0.0066% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #775 | 329 | 0.0193% |
| 2024 | #777 | 322 | 0.0188% |
| 2023 | #783 | 323 | 0.0189% |
| 2022 | #695 | 381 | 0.0218% |
| 2021 | #721 | 359 | 0.0205% |
| 2020 | #718 | 345 | 0.0200% |
| 2019 | #649 | 414 | 0.0231% |
| 2018 | #623 | 428 | 0.0236% |
| 2017 | #648 | 401 | 0.0217% |
| 2016 | #677 | 377 | 0.0199% |
| 2015 | #779 | 302 | 0.0158% |
| 2014 | #716 | 337 | 0.0175% |
| 2013 | #712 | 331 | 0.0175% |
| 2012 | #721 | 325 | 0.0171% |
| 2011 | #707 | 324 | 0.0171% |
| 2010 | #659 | 364 | 0.0190% |
| 2009 | #646 | 384 | 0.0194% |
| 2008 | #642 | 381 | 0.0187% |
| 2007 | #578 | 445 | 0.0214% |
| 2006 | #595 | 414 | 0.0201% |
| 2005 | #528 | 459 | 0.0230% |
| 2004 | #530 | 447 | 0.0225% |
| 2003 | #524 | 447 | 0.0226% |
| 2002 | #518 | 438 | 0.0226% |
| 2001 | #501 | 454 | 0.0234% |
| 2000 | #512 | 442 | 0.0225% |
| 1999 | #484 | 460 | 0.0240% |
| 1998 | #468 | 482 | 0.0252% |
| 1997 | #480 | 449 | 0.0238% |
| 1996 | #456 | 482 | 0.0254% |
| 1995 | #448 | 508 | 0.0267% |
| 1994 | #417 | 551 | 0.0285% |
| 1993 | #408 | 567 | 0.0289% |
| 1992 | #367 | 644 | 0.0322% |
| 1991 | #368 | 634 | 0.0314% |
| 1990 | #371 | 626 | 0.0305% |
| 1989 | #322 | 747 | 0.0373% |
| 1988 | #322 | 672 | 0.0351% |
| 1987 | #302 | 711 | 0.0381% |
| 1986 | #303 | 675 | 0.0367% |
| 1985 | #269 | 778 | 0.0421% |
| 1984 | #286 | 728 | 0.0403% |
| 1983 | #275 | 753 | 0.0420% |
| 1982 | #273 | 767 | 0.0423% |
| 1981 | #258 | 835 | 0.0466% |
| 1980 | #258 | 859 | 0.0481% |
| 1979 | #239 | 914 | 0.0531% |
| 1978 | #231 | 912 | 0.0555% |
| 1977 | #227 | 949 | 0.0577% |
| 1976 | #216 | 964 | 0.0614% |
| 1975 | #204 | 1,074 | 0.0688% |
| 1974 | #207 | 1,077 | 0.0685% |
| 1973 | #189 | 1,204 | 0.0772% |
| 1972 | #183 | 1,334 | 0.0823% |
| 1971 | #175 | 1,530 | 0.0865% |
| 1970 | #169 | 1,696 | 0.0913% |
| 1969 | #171 | 1,626 | 0.0909% |
| 1968 | #153 | 1,776 | 0.1022% |
| 1967 | #148 | 1,878 | 0.1077% |
| 1966 | #144 | 1,993 | 0.1117% |
| 1965 | #146 | 2,110 | 0.1134% |
| 1964 | #136 | 2,399 | 0.1204% |
| 1963 | #137 | 2,495 | 0.1229% |
| 1962 | #134 | 2,621 | 0.1267% |
| 1961 | #131 | 2,749 | 0.1294% |
| 1960 | #124 | 3,022 | 0.1418% |
| 1959 | #120 | 3,271 | 0.1532% |
| 1958 | #111 | 3,588 | 0.1691% |
| 1957 | #100 | 3,806 | 0.1764% |
| 1956 | #95 | 3,925 | 0.1856% |
| 1955 | #89 | 4,139 | 0.2009% |
| 1954 | #86 | 4,354 | 0.2136% |
| 1953 | #83 | 4,580 | 0.2322% |
| 1952 | #75 | 4,992 | 0.2568% |
| 1951 | #70 | 5,304 | 0.2817% |
| 1950 | #61 | 5,375 | 0.3002% |
| 1949 | #59 | 5,543 | 0.3125% |
| 1948 | #57 | 5,945 | 0.3388% |
| 1947 | #54 | 6,515 | 0.3561% |
| 1946 | #50 | 6,029 | 0.3712% |
| 1945 | #47 | 5,648 | 0.4197% |
| 1944 | #49 | 5,479 | 0.4020% |
| 1943 | #50 | 5,720 | 0.4008% |
| 1942 | #48 | 5,629 | 0.4076% |
| 1941 | #48 | 5,056 | 0.4116% |
| 1940 | #47 | 4,681 | 0.4038% |
| 1939 | #45 | 4,661 | 0.4211% |
| 1938 | #44 | 4,824 | 0.4349% |
| 1937 | #41 | 4,814 | 0.4513% |
| 1936 | #39 | 4,930 | 0.4753% |
| 1935 | #37 | 5,055 | 0.4854% |
| 1934 | #36 | 5,099 | 0.4938% |
| 1933 | #35 | 5,134 | 0.5178% |
| 1932 | #32 | 5,705 | 0.5464% |
| 1931 | #30 | 6,045 | 0.5814% |
| 1930 | #28 | 6,848 | 0.6240% |
| 1929 | #27 | 7,144 | 0.6642% |
| 1928 | #26 | 7,604 | 0.6865% |
| 1927 | #25 | 8,019 | 0.7116% |
| 1926 | #25 | 8,215 | 0.7398% |
| 1925 | #23 | 8,611 | 0.7717% |
| 1924 | #22 | 9,115 | 0.8047% |
| 1923 | #22 | 9,261 | 0.8449% |
| 1922 | #22 | 9,077 | 0.8342% |
| 1921 | #21 | 9,731 | 0.8835% |
| 1920 | #21 | 9,406 | 0.8837% |
| 1919 | #20 | 8,990 | 0.9172% |
| 1918 | #20 | 9,896 | 0.9764% |
| 1917 | #19 | 8,856 | 0.9569% |
| 1916 | #19 | 8,476 | 0.9523% |
| 1915 | #19 | 8,470 | 0.9981% |
| 1914 | #19 | 6,588 | 1.0062% |
| 1913 | #15 | 5,458 | 1.0648% |
| 1912 | #16 | 4,624 | 1.0755% |
| 1911 | #13 | 2,538 | 1.1232% |
| 1910 | #16 | 1,978 | 1.0185% |
| 1909 | #14 | 1,924 | 1.1732% |
| 1908 | #14 | 1,934 | 1.2531% |
| 1907 | #14 | 1,813 | 1.2348% |
| 1906 | #14 | 1,631 | 1.2249% |
| 1905 | #14 | 1,619 | 1.2237% |
| 1904 | #13 | 1,722 | 1.3440% |
| 1903 | #13 | 1,647 | 1.3814% |
| 1902 | #13 | 1,750 | 1.4267% |
| 1901 | #13 | 1,594 | 1.4972% |
| 1900 | #13 | 2,272 | 1.5099% |
| 1899 | #13 | 1,732 | 1.6307% |
| 1898 | #12 | 2,129 | 1.7353% |
| 1897 | #13 | 1,879 | 1.6664% |
| 1896 | #11 | 2,091 | 1.7488% |
| 1895 | #12 | 2,128 | 1.8127% |
| 1894 | #10 | 2,189 | 1.8909% |
| 1893 | #10 | 2,245 | 1.9988% |
| 1892 | #9 | 2,460 | 2.0158% |
| 1891 | #9 | 2,132 | 2.1069% |
| 1890 | #10 | 2,345 | 2.1122% |
| 1889 | #8 | 2,559 | 2.3142% |
| 1888 | #9 | 2,759 | 2.2830% |
| 1887 | #12 | 2,057 | 2.0284% |
| 1886 | #12 | 2,257 | 2.0373% |
| 1885 | #12 | 2,198 | 2.0390% |
| 1884 | #12 | 2,323 | 2.0298% |
| 1883 | #12 | 2,110 | 2.0167% |
| 1882 | #12 | 2,232 | 1.9633% |
| 1881 | #12 | 2,002 | 1.9874% |
| 1880 | #12 | 2,152 | 1.9477% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
