Harriet
Say it: HARR-ee-et/ˈhæɹiɛt/
GirlMeans the feminine form of Henry, which means "ruler of the home"7 letters3 syllables
#226
in Ireland (2025)
#229 with spellings combined
19
babies in 2025
#212
best rank (2023)
382
babies since 1966
Up 150
10-year rank change
Harriet through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (girls) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 19 | #229 |
| 2024 | 15 | #279 |
| 2023 | 20 | #212 |
| 2022 | 11 | #354 |
| 2021 | 11 | #364 |
| 2020 | 19 | #231 |
| 2019 | 17 | #273 |
| 2018 | 20 | #235 |
| 2017 | 18 | #260 |
| 2016 | 12 | #360 |
| 2015 | 12 | #379 |
| 2014 | 17 | #291 |
| 2013 | 15 | #316 |
| 2012 | 10 | #438 |
| 2011 | 9 | #470 |
| 2010 | 11 | #423 |
| 2009 | 5 | #641 |
| 2008 | 10 | #431 |
| 2007 | 4 | #704 |
| 2006 | 5 | #551 |
| 2005 | 6 | #461 |
| 2002 | 5 | #443 |
| 2001 | 6 | #400 |
| 2000 | 3 | #536 |
| 1997 | 6 | #394 |
| 1996 | 4 | #471 |
| 1995 | 3 | #516 |
| 1994 | 3 | #502 |
| 1993 | 3 | #516 |
| 1992 | 10 | #305 |
| 1991 | 4 | #457 |
| 1990 | 7 | #357 |
| 1989 | 3 | #503 |
| 1988 | 3 | #492 |
| 1986 | 4 | #458 |
| 1985 | 4 | #456 |
| 1983 | 4 | #476 |
| 1979 | 3 | #523 |
| 1978 | 4 | #469 |
| 1977 | 3 | #518 |
| 1975 | 3 | #503 |
| 1974 | 4 | #428 |
| 1973 | 5 | #402 |
| 1971 | 3 | #466 |
| 1970 | 3 | #447 |
| 1969 | 4 | #393 |
| 1967 | 3 | #393 |
| 1966 | 9 | #236 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Harriet mean?
The feminine form of Henry, which means "ruler of the home"
English, from the French Henriette, a feminine form of Henri (Henry).
Say it right
HARReeet
The story of Harriet
Harriet is an English form of the French Henriette, a feminine version of Henri. That makes it a sister name to Henry, a Germanic name usually explained as “ruler of the home”. Harriet was especially popular in England in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, and Hattie grew up as its pet form.
Well-known bearers include Harriet Tubman, who escaped slavery in the United States and then led many others to freedom.
Harriet has been given in Ireland in small numbers throughout the CSO records. It has picked up in recent years: its biggest year was 2018, with 20 girls, and its best rank was number 212 in 2023. In 2025, 19 girls were named Harriet. It has been a little more popular in Northern Ireland, where it reached number 107 in 2019.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Harriet (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Harriet (name)
- CSO VSA60, Girls Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- NISRA, First Forenames Given to Babies Registered in Northern Ireland
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Nicknames
Hattie
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Harriet | 19 | 382 |
In Northern Ireland
#177 in 2025 with 10 babies. Best rank #107 (2019); 207 babies since 1997.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.