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Names Starting With H
GirlFrench

Harriet

Harriet is a girls' name of French origin meaning “ruler of the home; estate ruler.” The English and French feminine form of Harry, itself a variant of Henry, from the Germanic Heimrich (home ruler).

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how do you pronounce Harriet?

HAIR-ee-et

where does the name Harriet come from?

The anglicized form of Henriette, the feminine of Henry.

Harriet Tubman, the American abolitionist and freedom fighter, makes this name one of great historical weight.

how popular is this name?

Harriet has appeared in the US top 1,000 in 92 years since 1880, and fell outside it for 48. It peaked at #73 in 1880, and ranked #988 in 2019.

1880higher on the chart = more popular · rank #1 to #1,0002019
See the milestone years
Harriet US popularity rank by year, selected milestones
YearRank
2019#988
1970#819
1960#451
1950#246
1940#157
1930#138
1920#112
1910#126
1900#134
1890#102
1880#73

Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset (through 2025). Years absent from the table are years Harriet fell outside the top 1,000.

the history of Harriet

Harriet was popular in England in the 18th and 19th centuries.

who are famous people named Harriet?

  • Harriet Tubman (abolitionist)
  • Harriet Beecher Stowe (author)
  • Harriet Walter (actress)

what are the nicknames and variants of Harriet?

Nicknames

HattieHetty

Variants around the world

Henriette

what names are similar to Harriet?

what names go well with Harriet?

Sibling names that share Harriet's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.

Style:Vintage Comeback

quick answers about Harriet

What does the name Harriet mean?

Harriet means “ruler of the home; estate ruler”.

What is the origin of the name Harriet?

Harriet comes from the French naming tradition. Related forms include Henriette.

How popular is the name Harriet?

Harriet ranked #988 in the US in 2019, according to Social Security data. Its best year was 1880, at #73, and it has spent 92 years in the top 1,000 since 1880.

Is Harriet a boy or girl name?

Harriet is primarily a girls' name.

How do you pronounce Harriet?

Harriet is pronounced HAIR-ee-et, with 3 syllables.

Last updated · Curated by HushName editorial

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