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Hal as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Hal

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The baby name Hal is a Male name , 1 syllables long and is pronounced /hæl/ (rhymes with "pal").

Hal is English in Origin.

Gender: Male
Syllables: 1.0
Origin: English
Pronunciation: /hæl/ (rhymes with "pal")

What is the meaning of the name Hal ?

The baby name Hal is a Male name , 1 syllables long and is pronounced /hæl/ (rhymes with "pal").

Hal is English in Origin.

Hal is an English hypocoristic form most commonly of Henry and Harold. As a diminutive of Henry (from Germanic elements heim "home" + ric "ruler"), it carries the sense "home ruler." When short for Harold (Old English here "army" + weald "power, ruler"), it means "army ruler." Though long used as a nickname, Hal has also stood alone as an independent given name since at least the 19th century.

Medieval English use of Hal for Henry was cemented by Shakespeare, whose Prince Hal becomes Henry V, lending the name a rakish image. In the United States and Britain, Hal saw modest mid-20th-century popularity; bearers include filmmaker Hal Ashby, producer Hal Roach, and actor Hal Holbrook. Related forms and variants include Henry, Harry, Hank; Harold, Harald, Haroldo; Henri, Heinrich, Enrique, Enrico, Henrik, Heinz. Feminine or modern counterparts sometimes include Hallie or Hali.

Hal has the following similar or variant Names

Famous people with the name Hal

Hal Holbrook Actor · Born 1925 · United States Hal Holbrook was an American actor best known for his portrayal of Mark Twain in his one-man show 'Mark Twain Tonight!' He also gained recognition for his roles in films like 'All the President's Men' and 'Into the Wild.' Holbrook's career spanned over six decades, making him a respected figure in the entertainment industry. Hal Sparks Musician · Born 1969 · United States Hal Sparks is an American comedian and actor best known for playing Michael Novotny on Queer as Folk and for hosting Talk Soup. He has also appeared as Donald Davenport in Lab Rats and voiced Tak in Tak and the Power of Juju. Hal Smith Actor · Born 1916 · United States Hal Smith may refer to several people, most notably the American actor and voice actor best known for playing Otis Campbell on The Andy Griffith Show and voicing Owl in Winnie the Pooh and Flintheart Glomgold in DuckTales.
Hal Willner Musician · Born 1956 · United States Hal Willner was an American music producer best known for creating eclectic tribute albums and live events that brought together artists from jazz, classical, rock, and Tin Pan Alley. He also worked across recordings, films, and television, including projects like Stay Awake: Various Interpretations of Music from Vintage Disney Films and Rogue's Gallery: Pirate Ballads, Sea Songs, and Chanteys.

Hal – Popularity by country

Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.

Country Gender Year Rank Born of
MV Girls 0 #35 1 2,021
AL 0 #76 1 2,372
JP 0 #77 1 4,057
MV Boys 0 #79 1 3,375
JM 0 #92 2 3,714
SD 0 #102 1 2,130
PH 0 #110 1 5,607
BN Girls 0 #114 1 5,459
OM 0 #121 1 6,215
IQ 0 #130 4 3,533
BN Boys 0 #134 6 6,332
LT Boys 0 #151 1 2,166
CR 0 #164 2 5,526
AE 0 #187 1 10,220
LU Girls 0 #190 1 4,850
PL 0 #212 1 2,600
MO Boys 0 #234 1 5,842
JP Girls 0 #251 1 6,592
TW Boys 0 #253 4 7,111
MO Girls 0 #263 1 7,056
GR Boys 0 #273 1 6,912
AF Boys 0 #274 1 3,535
JM Girls 0 #278 1 7,507
SG 0 #279 4 11,010
IL 0 #282 1 6,291
JM Boys 0 #285 9 6,876
TW Girls 0 #288 2 8,139
JP Boys 0 #296 8 7,909
CZ Boys 0 #305 1 6,530
SA 0 #312 1 10,560
CN Boys 0 #326 6 9,639
KZ Girls 0 #332 1 5,862
GT 0 #338 1 5,948
JO Girls 0 #338 2 7,570
PL Girls 0 #338 17 5,096
PL Boys 0 #339 2 6,459
QA Girls 0 #342 2 15,378
CZ Girls 0 #351 1 5,378
MY 0 #353 2 12,352
SD Girls 0 #354 5 7,678
HK 0 #357 1 8,483
GH Boys 0 #361 1 8,138
MU Girls 0 #361 2 8,539
PT Boys 0 #380 2 7,951
JO Boys 0 #389 1 7,057
YE 0 #391 8 8,639
BD Girls 0 #406 1 8,413
PH Boys 0 #406 3 11,440
EG 0 #409 4 6,387
OM Girls 0 #420 5 15,987
PH Girls 0 #426 4 13,098
MX 0 #443 3 8,339
SD Boys 0 #462 5 10,523
ZA 0 #474 1 14,421
IQ Girls 0 #479 26 11,303
RU Boys 0 #496 10 12,621
GT Boys 0 #499 1 7,625
KW Girls 0 #499 17 19,177
CR Boys 0 #502 9 10,188
PA Boys 0 #505 1 9,305
RU Girls 0 #521 3 11,913
LY 0 #526 10 12,703
AE Girls 0 #543 11 20,968
IR Girls 0 #543 3 8,334
PS Girls 0 #547 1 10,981
HK Boys 0 #551 7 12,905
PS Boys 0 #558 4 10,655
CM Girls 0 #560 1 11,671
IR Boys 0 #562 4 10,162
CR Girls 0 #573 1 11,342
CM Boys 0 #575 1 12,054
BH 0 #583 5 17,937
IQ Boys 0 #590 78 13,071
BD Boys 0 #604 2 10,045
BO Boys 0 #621 2 9,244
IL Boys 0 #622 4 10,983
SG Girls 0 #629 4 18,916
AR Girls 0 #630 1 8,289
IL Girls 0 #644 2 11,648
HK Girls 0 #646 5 16,104
LB 0 #683 8 13,263
SG Boys 0 #686 12 17,960
CL Boys 0 #699 2 13,390
SY 0 #708 21 11,684
TN 0 #736 94 13,765
QA Boys 0 #742 2 18,093
KW Boys 0 #754 16 18,755
BR Boys 0 #783 3 12,213
EG Boys 0 #805 82 15,035
NG Girls 0 #824 3 15,093
SA Girls 0 #850 86 25,931
United States Boys 2024 #860 33 7,044
OM Boys 0 #913 6 17,948
CL Girls 0 #914 2 14,098
PE Boys 0 #920 7 14,506
Spain Boys 0 #921 10 5,610
EG Girls 0 #926 34 14,742
Germany Boys 0 #933 20 5,697
NL Boys 0 #933 19 5,873
MA 0 #948 181 20,986
MY Girls 0 #970 25 24,821
MX Boys 0 #972 11 16,355
CO Boys 0 #974 8 15,656
NG Boys 0 #995 7 16,906
PE Girls 0 #1,010 1 14,861
DZ 0 #1,011 166 20,130
IN Boys 0 #1,034 6 16,750
MY Boys 0 #1,082 30 25,439
AE Boys 0 #1,135 9 22,615
CO Girls 0 #1,151 2 16,140
TR 0 #1,163 49 19,440
ZA Girls 0 #1,235 2 25,928
ZA Boys 0 #1,264 9 25,619
MX Girls 0 #1,265 3 17,781
IT Boys 0 #1,441 31 10,046
SA Boys 0 #1,560 55 28,008

Hal is popular in 64 countries — most recent births per country:

United States
AE
AF
AL
AR

Did we miss something about this name? Let us know!

People also ask about Hal

Hal is predominantly a boy's name.
Hal is a one syllable name, pronounced /hæl/ (rhymes with "pal").
Common nicknames and spelling variations include Hall, Halle and Halley.
Somewhat — Hal ranked #860 in United States in 2024, and appears in official birth registries across 2 countries, placing it just outside the most common names.
Hal ranks highest in United States (#860 in 2024).
Hal's popularity is rising significantly. It moved from #870 in 2014 to #860 in 2024 in United States.
Yes — 4 notable people named Hal are in our database, including Hal Holbrook (Actor), Hal Sparks (Musician), Hal Smith (Actor).