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Name Lineage

    The first name Harriet

    A girl’s name meaning “henry”.

    Pronounced /ˈhæɹiɛt/ 3 syllables Female

    Meaning and origin

    Harriet means “henry”.

    Anglicized form of French Henriette, feminine form of Henri (“Henry”), popular in England in the 18th and 19th centuries.

    From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

    Popularity

    Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

    In 2025, 757 girls were named Harriet, making it the 59th most popular girls’ name. It peaked in 2016, with 1,132 births (#49).

    01,0002,000 1996200020052010201520202025
    25,538
    babies named Harriet, 1996–2025
    #59
    rank in 2025
    2016
    peak year

    Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Harriet with other names.

    Popularity in the United States

    Babies named Harriet at birth, 1880–2025

    In 2025, 226 girls born in the United States were named Harriet, the 1,073rd most popular girls’ name that year. It was used most in 1921, when 2,389 were.

    01,5003,000 188018851890189519001905191019151920192519301935194019451950195519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025
    90,427
    babies named Harriet since 1880
    #1,073
    rank in 2025
    1921
    peak year

    US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.

    Harriet in other languages

    Equivalent forms of the name, from Wiktionary

    Ха́риет
    Háriet
    Bulgarian
    Enriqueta
    Spanish

    Nicknames and spellings

    Nicknames for Harriet

    Other spellings and forms

    Famous people named Harriet

    59 on Wikidata, most written-about first

    • Harriet Beecher Stowe
      American abolitionist and author (1811–1896)
    • Harriet Tubman
      African-American abolitionist (1822–1913)
    • Harriet Martineau
      English writer and sociologist (1802–1876)
    • Harriet Taylor Mill
      British philosopher (1807–1858)
    • Harriet Lane
      First Lady of the United States from 1857 to 1861
    • Harriet Quimby
      American aviator, screenwriter (1875-1912)
    • Harriet Harman
      British politician (born 1950)
    • Harriet Jacobs
      American slave, writer, and abolitionist (1815-1897)
    • Harriet Walter
      British actress (born 1950)
    • Harriet Brooks
      Canadian nuclear physicist (1876–1933)
    • Harriet Bland
      American athletics competitor (1915–1991)
    • Harriet Hosmer
      American sculptor (1830–1908)

    Questions

    What does the name Harriet mean?
    Harriet means “henry”.
    How popular is the name Harriet?
    In 2025, 757 girls born in England and Wales were named Harriet, ranking 59th. Its peak was 2016, with 1,132 births.
    What are nicknames for Harriet?
    Common nicknames for Harriet include Hally, Harry, Hattie, Hallie, Hatty.
    Is Harriet a boy's or a girl's name?
    Mostly a girl's name: 100% of the 90,427 US babies named Harriet since 1880 were girls.
    When was Harriet most popular?
    1921 in the United States, when 2,389 babies were named Harriet, its highest rank at 114th.
    How do you pronounce Harriet?
    Harriet is /ˈhæɹiɛt/, 3 syllables.
    What are other spellings of Harriet?
    Harriette.