Harry is a popular given name of English origin that has been widely used throughout the world. The name Harry is derived from the Old German personal name "Heriger", which was composed of the elements "heri" meaning "army" and "ric" meaning "power". Thus, the name Harry means "powerful in war" or "war leader".
The use of the name Harry can be traced back to medieval England, where it was brought over by German settlers. It became particularly popular during the Middle Ages, with several kings of England having the name Harry as part of their full names, such as Henry VIII and his son Henry IX, also known as Harry. This further contributed to the popularity and recognition of the name Harry in English-speaking countries.
Over time, the name Harry has been adapted and shortened from various forms of the name Henry, which shares a similar origin and meaning. Some variations of the name include Hari, Harri, and Herry. Today, Harry is still considered a classic and timeless name for boys, with its popularity enduring across generations.
The name Harry has been a popular choice for newborns in the United States since the late 19th century. Between 1880 and 2023, there have been a total of 423,203 babies named Harry at birth.
During the early years, from 1880 to 1905, the number of babies named Harry fluctuated, with an average of around 2,000 births per year. The highest recorded year during this period was 1888, with 2,759 births.
However, the popularity of the name Harry significantly increased between 1912 and 1923, with a peak in 1915 when there were 8,470 births. This trend continued until the early 1930s, with over 5,000 babies named Harry born each year.
After World War II, the popularity of the name Harry started to decline, and it reached its lowest point in recent history in 2020, with only 345 births. However, there has been a slight resurgence since then, with 380 births recorded in 2022.
Overall, despite fluctuations over time, the name Harry remains a classic choice for parents in the United States, with over 420,000 babies sharing this name since 1880.