Henry
Say it: HEN-ree/ˈhɛn.ɹi/
BoyMeans usually explained as "ruler of the home"5 letters2 syllables
#76
in Ireland (2025)
#79 with spellings combined
78
babies in 2025
#60
best rank (1964)
2,744
babies since 1964
Up 4
10-year rank change
Henry through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (boys) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 78 | #79 |
| 2024 | 56 | #103 |
| 2023 | 63 | #95 |
| 2022 | 72 | #89 |
| 2021 | 59 | #109 |
| 2020 | 70 | #89 |
| 2019 | 83 | #86 |
| 2018 | 86 | #82 |
| 2017 | 87 | #81 |
| 2016 | 94 | #75 |
| 2015 | 88 | #83 |
| 2014 | 85 | #91 |
| 2013 | 69 | #102 |
| 2012 | 51 | #141 |
| 2011 | 68 | #109 |
| 2010 | 52 | #142 |
| 2009 | 33 | #173 |
| 2008 | 43 | #155 |
| 2007 | 31 | #174 |
| 2006 | 29 | #161 |
| 2005 | 30 | #152 |
| 2004 | 21 | #177 |
| 2003 | 21 | #171 |
| 2002 | 23 | #165 |
| 2001 | 18 | #174 |
| 2000 | 28 | #137 |
| 1999 | 21 | #156 |
| 1998 | 11 | #193 |
| 1997 | 25 | #147 |
| 1996 | 30 | #138 |
| 1995 | 11 | #206 |
| 1994 | 19 | #155 |
| 1993 | 18 | #169 |
| 1992 | 27 | #144 |
| 1991 | 28 | #140 |
| 1990 | 24 | #150 |
| 1989 | 19 | #154 |
| 1988 | 25 | #137 |
| 1987 | 25 | #141 |
| 1986 | 35 | #118 |
| 1985 | 26 | #138 |
| 1984 | 28 | #130 |
| 1983 | 39 | #123 |
| 1982 | 36 | #125 |
| 1981 | 28 | #142 |
| 1980 | 32 | #131 |
| 1979 | 39 | #121 |
| 1978 | 38 | #118 |
| 1977 | 41 | #116 |
| 1976 | 31 | #129 |
| 1975 | 31 | #122 |
| 1974 | 36 | #118 |
| 1973 | 48 | #106 |
| 1972 | 45 | #109 |
| 1971 | 46 | #109 |
| 1970 | 53 | #94 |
| 1969 | 67 | #84 |
| 1968 | 51 | #89 |
| 1967 | 58 | #82 |
| 1966 | 56 | #83 |
| 1965 | 72 | #68 |
| 1964 | 87 | #60 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Henry mean?
Usually explained as "ruler of the home"
Germanic, from Haimirich, through French Henri.
Say it right
HENree
The story of Henry
Henry comes from a Germanic name, Haimirich, built from words usually explained as “home” and “ruler”. It reached England through the French Henri, and eight English kings carried it, from Henry I to Henry VIII. For centuries the everyday spoken form in England was Harry.
The name has a long history in Ireland too. Henry II was the first English king to come to Ireland, landing in 1171.
Henry was a steady choice in 1960s Ireland, at number 60 in 1964, then slowly fell out of favour. It came back strongly in the 2010s and had its busiest year in 2016, with 94 boys. It is more popular in Northern Ireland, where it ranked 24th in 2025, well above its CSO rank of number 76.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Henry (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Henry (given name)
- CSO VSA50, Boys Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- NISRA Baby Names, Northern Ireland
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Nicknames
HarryHal
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Henry | 78 | 2,744 |
In Northern Ireland
#24 in 2025 with 64 babies. Best rank #22 (2023); 961 babies since 1997.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.