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At a Glance: Name: Harriet – Meaning: home ruler, ruler of the household – Origin: English (from French Henriette, feminine of Henri/Henry) – Gender: used for both boys and girls – Pronunciation: HAIR-ee-ut
Harriet is an English name that comes from the French Henriette, the feminine form of Henri (Henry), and it carries the meaning "home ruler" or "ruler of the household." U.S. Social Security records trace the name all the way back to 1880, giving it a long, documented history for parents to look at. If you want a name with a well-established track record rather than a recent invention, Harriet has that.
Meaning & Origin of Harriet
Meaning: Home ruler, ruler of the household.
Origin: English (from French Henriette, feminine of Henri/Henry).
Source: Wiktionary.
How to Pronounce Harriet
Phonetic: HAIR-ee-ut IPA: /ˈhæriət/
Popularity of Harriet
Harriet reached its highest point in 1880, ranking #73 with 319 babies given the name that year. By 2024 it had dropped to #1157 with 208 babies, a big fall from its 19th-century peak over the 144 years of Social Security data.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1880–2024.
Make Harriet Name Art
Free printable nursery art for Harriet, 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.
FAQ
What does the name Harriet mean?
Home ruler, ruler of the household. (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Harriet)
How do you pronounce Harriet?
Harriet is pronounced HAIR-ee-ut (IPA: /ˈhæriət/).
Is Harriet a popular name right now?
Harriet peaked at #73 in 1880 and is ranked #1157 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)
📊 How popular is Harriet? See the full popularity history, trend data, and ranking since 1880 with our free Baby Name Popularity Checker.
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