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Henry

/HEN-ree/

Henry is a boy name of Germanic origin, meaning Ruler of the home.

  • GenderBoy
  • OriginGermanic
  • StyleModern
  • Syllables2
  • US rank#9

What does Henry mean?

Ruler of the home

From the Germanic Heimirich, combining heim ("home, estate") and ric ("ruler, power"). The sense is a lord of his own household and lands.

The story behind the name

Henry is one of the great royal names of Europe: eight kings of England, four of France, and a long line of Holy Roman Emperors. Henry II built the foundations of English common law; Henry V won at Agincourt; Henry VIII broke with Rome.

The medieval English pronunciation gave rise to Harry, which was the ordinary spoken form for centuries - which is why Shakespeare's Henry V is cheered as 'Harry' by his own soldiers.

The name declined through the mid-twentieth century and has come back hard since 2000, ranking in the American top ten from 2021.

Notable people named Henry

  • Henry V of England
  • Henry VIII of England
  • Henry David Thoreau, writer
  • Henri Matisse, painter

How popular is Henry?

Popularity in the United States

Henry has been given to 715,956 babies in the United States since 1880, peaking in the 1920s. It has been climbing over the last two decades.

About 1 in 154 babies born in the United States were given this name in the most recent year on record.

05,75411,508188019502020
Babies named Henry per year in the United States, 1880–2020. Source: Social Security Administration

Popularity in France

Henry has been given to 11,918 babies in France since 1900, peaking in the 1920s. It has held a steady level of use since.

0113225190019612022
Babies named Henry per year in France, 1900–2022. Source: INSEE

Popularity in Spain

There are 1,367 people called Henry living in Spain, with an average age of 42.8.

715,956 Babies named since 1880
1920s Peak decade
Rising Recent trend

Variants and related names

Other spellings: Henri, Heinrich, Enrique, Hendrik, Enrico

Related names: Harry, Hendrik, Henrietta, Enrique, Heinrich

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Frequently asked questions about Henry

What does the name Henry mean?

Henry means Ruler of the home. It is of Germanic origin.

Is Henry a boy's or a girl's name?

Henry is most often given to boys.

How do you pronounce Henry?

Henry is pronounced HEN-ree.

How popular is the name Henry?

Henry has been given to 715,956 babies in the United States since 1880, peaking in the 1920s. It has been climbing over the last two decades.

What are other spellings of Henry?

Common variants include Henri, Heinrich, Enrique, Hendrik, Enrico.