Harold, derived from Old Norse elements 'hár' meaning 'army' and 'frior' meaning 'powerful', was once a popular given name among the Anglo-Saxon and Germanic peoples. It reached its peak of usage in the late 19th century but has since become less common, though still present today. Some notable individuals throughout history have borne this name, including Harold II of England, who was famously defeated by William the Conqueror at the Battle of Hastings in 1066. Other prominent Harolds include American inventor and businessman Harold Stirling Vanderbilt, known for his work on improving the game of bridge; and Harold Pinter, the Nobel laureate playwright known for his work in dramatic modernism.
The name Harold experienced significant fluctuations in popularity over the years, with a notable peak during World War I. Between 1914 and 1918, there were consistently high numbers of births registered as Harold, reaching an all-time high of 71 births in 1919. However, the popularity of the name Harold declined significantly after the war, dropping to single-digit figures by the late 1930s and remaining relatively low until the present day.