Harold

At a Glance: Name: Harold – Meaning: army ruler, military power – Origin: Old English / Old Norse (Germanic) – Gender: Boy – Pronunciation: HAIR-uld

---

Harold is a boy's name rooted in Old English and Old Norse, carrying the meaning "army ruler, military power." Pronounced HAIR-uld, it fits the vintage, timeless, classic style category — a name with real history rather than a recent invention. SSA records for it stretch all the way back to 1880.

Meaning & Origin of Harold

Meaning: Army ruler, military power.

Origin: Old English / Old Norse (Germanic).

Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.

How to Pronounce Harold

Phonetic: HAIR-uld   IPA: /ˈhɛrəld/

Popularity of Harold

Harold hit its high point in 1915, when 10,444 baby boys were given the name and it ranked #12 nationally. By 2024 it had dropped to #988, with just 227 boys named Harold that year.

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

Make Harold Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Harold, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.

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.

• Archie
• Everett
• Ricky
• Alden
• Alfred
• Allen

FAQ

What does the name Harold mean?

Army ruler, military power. (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Harold)

How do you pronounce Harold?

Harold is pronounced HAIR-uld (IPA: /ˈhɛrəld/).

Is Harold a popular name right now?

Harold peaked at #12 in 1915 and is ranked #988 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)

More Baby Name Inspiration

• Check any name’s popularity history
• Take the naming-style quiz
• Make art for a different name