Names › Girls' names › H › Harriet
Harriet
Meaning: ruler of the home (feminine of Harry) · Origin: Germanic (via English) · Gender: usually a girl's name
Origin & history
An English feminine of Harry (Henry), 'ruler of the home'. Harriet Tubman led many enslaved people to freedom.
Famous people named Harriet
- Harriet Tubman (abolitionist)
- Harriet Beecher Stowe (author)
Nicknames
Hattie, Hallie, Etta
Variants & related names
Henriette, Harriett
Harriet name art
A free preview of a printable “Harriet” poster with its meaning — great for a nursery, a birthday or a gift.
Instant download, no subscription. Not printed or shipped — you get a high-resolution PNG to print at home or at a print shop.
FAQ
What does the name Harriet mean?
Harriet means “ruler of the home (feminine of Harry)”. It comes from Germanic (via English).
Is Harriet a popular name?
Harriet is a familiar girls' name in the UK and Australia. For exact current rankings, see the Office for National Statistics (England and Wales) and Australian state birth registries.
What are nicknames for Harriet?
Hattie, Hallie, Etta.
What are other forms of Harriet?
Henriette, Harriett.
Similar names
Amelia · Ella · Alice · Emery · Caroline · Matilda
More: names starting with H · all girls' names
Sources: standard name etymology references (e.g. Behind the Name, Oxford Dictionary of First Names); popularity from US SSA and UK ONS baby-name data. Meanings of old names are often debated — where scholars disagree we say so.