Henry: Meaning, origin and popularity
Pronounced HEN-ree · 2 syllables
Henry means “ruler of the home”, from Germanic.
From Middle English Henry, from Old French (and Anglo-Norman) Henri, from Frankish *Haimrik, from Proto-Germanic *Haimariks. Cognate with German Heinrich, Dutch Hendrik, Estonian Hendrik, and Old Norse Heimrikr (Danish Henrik).
- Meaning
- ruler of the home
- Origin
- Germanic
- Pronunciation
- HEN-ree
- US rank (2025)
- #5
- US babies a year
- about 11,465 (2021–2025)
- Peak
- around 1880
- Style
- Vintage, Comeback, Classic, Literary
- Nicknames
- Hank, Harry, Hal
How popular is Henry?
Henry was the #5 name in the US in 2025, given to 12,040 babies. Its use has been fairly steady over the last decade. It peaked around 1880.
Most popular in Minnesota (#2), Montana (#2), North Dakota (#2), New Hampshire (#2), Alaska (#3), Washington, DC (#3), Iowa (#3), Idaho (#3).
Around the world
| Country | Rank |
|---|---|
| United States | #5 |
| England & Wales | #11 |
| Scotland | #101 |
| Northern Ireland | #54 |
| Ireland | #79 |
| France | #528 |
| Norway | #50 |
| Canada | #16 |
| Australia | #4 |
How old are people named Henry?
Half of US adults named Henry are older than 60; most are between 20 and 87. (Estimated from US births by year and life tables.)
Sibling names for Henry
Names that real brothers and sisters of people named Henry have, from family records on Wikidata, most common first.
Names like Henry
Chosen by the same families or with a similar style and era.
On these lists
- The most popular boy names in the US
- Classic boy names
- Vintage boy names
- Comeback boy names
- Literary boy names
- Germanic boy names
Questions about Henry
What does the name Henry mean?
Henry means “ruler of the home”. It comes from Germanic.
How do you pronounce Henry?
Henry is pronounced HEN-ree.
How popular is the name Henry?
Henry was the #5 name in the US in 2025, given to 12,040 babies. Its use has been fairly steady over the last decade. It peaked around 1880.
How old are people named Henry?
Half of US adults named Henry are older than 60. Most are between 20 and 87.