Harris

At a Glance: Name: Harris – Meaning: son of Harry/Henry; alternatively, for the Isle of Harris, possibly from Old Norse for 'higher ground' or 'administrative district' – Origin: English (patronymic surname, 'son of Harry'); also a Scottish island name – Gender: used for both boys and girls – Pronunciation: HAIR-iss

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Harris is an English patronymic surname meaning 'son of Harry (Henry)', and it's also the name of a Scottish island, where it may come from an Old Norse term for 'higher ground' or 'administrative district'. You may see Harris glossed as meaning 'from the old meadow', but that claim isn't supported by Wiktionary — the patronymic meaning, or the Old Norse island connection, are the better-supported roots.

Meaning & Origin of Harris

Meaning: Son of Harry/Henry; alternatively, for the Isle of Harris, possibly from Old Norse for 'higher ground' or 'administrative district'.

Origin: English (patronymic surname, 'son of Harry'); also a Scottish island name.

A common claim: Harris means 'from the old meadow' Actually: Harris is sometimes glossed as 'from the old meadow,' but it's most often a patronymic meaning 'son of Harry (Henry).' For the Scottish island of Harris, it may instead come from Old Norse for 'higher ground' or 'administrative district.'

Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.

How to Pronounce Harris

Phonetic: HAIR-iss   IPA: /ˈhærɪs/

Popularity of Harris

Harris peaked at #316 in 1889 with 31 babies given the name, and by 2024 it had fallen to #1319 with just 147 — based on Social Security data spanning 1880 to 2024.

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1880–2024.

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Names With a Similar Story

Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.

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FAQ

What does the name Harris mean?

Son of Harry/Henry; alternatively, for the Isle of Harris, possibly from Old Norse for ‘higher ground’ or ‘administrative district’. (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Harris)

How do you pronounce Harris?

Harris is pronounced HAIR-iss (IPA: /ˈhærɪs/).

Is Harris a popular name right now?

Harris peaked at #316 in 1889 and is ranked #1319 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)

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