The first name Harris
A boy’s name from English meaning “patronymic suffix”.
Pronounced /ˈhæɹɪs/ 2 syllables Male Also a surname
Meaning and origin
English origin
Harris means “patronymic suffix” in English.
From Harry + -s (“patronymic suffix”). From Harry, a male given name derived from a Middle English pronunciation of Old French Henri.
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
In 2025, 103 boys were named Harris, making it the 396th most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 2015, with 186 births (#273).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Harris with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Harris at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 150 boys born in the United States were named Harris, the 1,300th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 1921, when 245 were.
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.
Famous people named Harris
13 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Harris DickinsonBritish actor, born 1996
- Harris YulinAmerican actor, 1937–2025
- Harris WoffordAmerican politician (1926-2019)
- William Harris AshmeadAmerican entomologist (1855–1908)
- Harris J. RyanAmerican engineer (1866–1934)
- DivineAmerican actor, singer and drag queen (1945–1988)
- Roy JenkinsBritish politician (1920–2003)
- William H. CrawfordAmerican politician and judge (1772-1834)
- Benjamin H. BrewsterAmerican politician (1816-1888)
- Jake MillerAmerican singer, born 1992
- Richard ClaridaAmerican economist, born 1957
- Channing H. CoxAmerican politician (1879–1968)
More English boys’ names
Questions
- What does the name Harris mean?
- Harris means “patronymic suffix” in English.
- What is the origin of the name Harris?
- From Harry + -s (“patronymic suffix”). From Harry, a male given name derived from a Middle English pronunciation of Old French Henri.
- How popular is the name Harris?
- In 2025, 103 boys born in England and Wales were named Harris, ranking 396th. Its peak was 2015, with 186 births.
- Is Harris a boy's or a girl's name?
- Mostly a boy's name: 99% of the 16,661 US babies named Harris since 1880 were boys.
- When was Harris most popular?
- 1921 in the United States, when 245 babies were named Harris, its highest rank at 387th.
- How do you pronounce Harris?
- Harris is /ˈhæɹɪs/, 2 syllables.
- Is Harris also a surname?
- Yes. Harris is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.