Names › Boys' names › H › Henry

Henry

Meaning: ruler of the home · Origin: Germanic · Gender: usually a boy's name

Origin & history

From Germanic Heimirich: heim ('home') + ric ('ruler'). Eight kings of England were named Henry.

Famous people named Henry

King Henry VIII
Henry Ford (industrialist)
Henry Cavill (actor)

Nicknames

Harry, Hank, Hal

Variants & related names

Henri, Enrique, Heinrich, Enrico

Henry name art

A free preview of a printable “Henry” 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 Henry mean?

Henry means “ruler of the home”. It comes from Germanic.

Is Henry a popular name?

Yes — Henry has been one of the most popular boys' names in the United States in the 2020s, according to US Social Security Administration baby-name data.

What are nicknames for Henry?

Harry, Hank, Hal.

What are other forms of Henry?

Henri, Enrique, Heinrich, Enrico.

Similar names

Luis · Archie · Freddie · Harry · Charlie · Louis

More: names starting with H · all boys' 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.