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Harold as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Harold

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The baby name Harold is a Male name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced /ˈhærəld/ or /ˈhæroʊld/ (HAR-əld).

Harold is English in Origin.

Gender: Male
Syllables: 2.0
Origin: English
Pronunciation: /ˈhærəld/ or /ˈhæroʊld/ (HAR-əld)

What is the meaning of the name Harold ?

The baby name Harold is a Male name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced /ˈhærəld/ or /ˈhæroʊld/ (HAR-əld).

Harold is English in Origin.

Harold derives from Old English Hereweald (here “army” + weald “ruler, power”) and is cognate with Old Norse Haraldr, giving the core meaning “army ruler” or “commander.” The name flourished in early medieval England and Scandinavia: England’s Harold Harefoot (Harold I) and Harold Godwinson (Harold II) bore it, while Scandinavian history remembers Harald Fairhair and Harald Bluetooth under the closely related form. After the Norman Conquest it waned in England, then enjoyed a Victorian and early 20th-century revival across the English-speaking world before receding again mid-century.

Variants and cognates include Harald (Scandinavian/German), Herold (German), Harro (German), Haroldo (Spanish/Portuguese), and Aroldo (Italian), with Herald appearing in English as a by-form and surname. Common short forms are Hal and Harl. Feminine adaptations like Haralda or Harolda occur rarely. The name conveys martial leadership, steadiness, and traditional gravitas.

Harold has the following similar or variant Names

Harold in Other Languages

Language Equivalent Name
Scandinavian/German Harald
Spanish/Portuguese Haroldo
Italian Araldo
French Harold / Harald
Latin Haraldus

Famous people with the name Harold

Harold Macmillan Politician · Born 1894 · United Kingdom Harold Macmillan was a British Conservative politician best known for serving as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1957 to 1963. Formally named Maurice Harold Macmillan, 1st Earl of Stockton, he was nicknamed “Supermac” and was known for his pragmatism, wit, and calm, unflappable style. Harold Wilson Politician · Born 1916 · United Kingdom Harold Wilson was a British politician best known for serving twice as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, first from 1964 to 1970 and again from 1974 to 1976. Born James Harold Wilson and later made Baron Wilson of Rievaulx, he was a major figure in British politics during the 1960s and 1970s. Harold Holt Politician · Born 1908 · Australia Harold Holt was best known as the 17th prime minister of Australia, serving from 1966 until his disappearance and presumed death in 1967. He was an Australian politician whose sudden disappearance at sea made him one of the country's most memorable leaders.
Harold Alexander, 1st Earl Alexander of Tunis Politician · Born 1891 · United Kingdom Harold Alexander, best known as a senior British commander in both World Wars, was a Field Marshal and later the 1st Earl Alexander of Tunis. Born in London in 1891, he was educated at Harrow and trained at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, before beginning his army career with the Irish Guards. Harold Perrineau Actor · Born 1963 · United States Harold Perrineau is an American actor best known for playing Michael Dawson on Lost and Mercutio in Romeo + Juliet. He also had a breakout role in Smoke (1995), which earned him an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Supporting Male. Harold Sakata Actor · Born 1920 · United States Harold Sakata was best known as the actor who played Oddjob in the James Bond film Goldfinger. Born Toshiyuki Sakata, he was also an American Olympic weightlifter who won silver at the 1948 Summer Olympics and later became a professional wrestler under the name Tosh Togo.

Celebrity babies named Harold

Name Last Name(s) Mother Mother famous for Fame Level Father Father famous for Fame Level
Harold Lloyd Jr. Harold Lloyd film director ★★★★★

Harold – Popularity by country

Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.

Country Gender Year Rank Born of
Ireland Boys 2013 #1 — 745
HT 0 #12 1 399
SV Boys 0 #28 1 352
BN 0 #31 2 2,297
HT Boys 0 #31 4 903
NA 0 #31 3 2,537
HN Boys 0 #49 4 749
MO 0 #52 1 2,706
PR 0 #52 4 1,497
CM 0 #55 2 2,592
LU 0 #66 1 2,830
PH 0 #73 24 5,607
AL 0 #76 1 2,372
JP 0 #77 1 4,057
JM 0 #78 10 3,714
CN 0 #86 1 3,857
CO Boys 0 #98 11,390 15,656
TW 0 #101 3 4,523
QA 0 #105 2 7,011
BN Girls 0 #114 1 5,459
PA 0 #120 11 3,797
KW 0 #121 1 5,216
BN Boys 0 #124 10 6,332
EE Boys 0 #125 1 2,087
CY Boys 0 #130 2 3,473
ID Boys 0 #133 3 4,130
IQ 0 #133 1 3,533
GR 0 #135 1 3,911
PR Boys 0 #135 41 2,508
MU 0 #136 2 3,613
CO 0 #138 722 7,768
BW Boys 0 #139 11 4,685
CR 0 #141 18 5,526
MT Girls 0 #153 1 3,773
RS Boys 0 #154 1 2,277
PH Boys 0 #158 278 11,440
CR Boys 0 #167 618 10,188
MT Boys 0 #172 8 4,064
HU Boys 0 #173 2 3,954
NA Boys 0 #176 60 6,830
AE 0 #179 9 10,220
CZ 0 #186 1 3,154
Belgium Boys 2021 #188 21 408
AR 0 #191 3 2,915
MO Boys 0 #199 25 5,842
NL Boys 0 #199 2,147 5,873
EC Boys 0 #211 29 3,322
JM Boys 0 #212 61 6,876
PA Boys 0 #212 393 9,305
PL 0 #212 1 2,600
LU Boys 0 #216 5 4,970
PS 0 #225 2 5,692
PE Boys 0 #229 2,146 14,506
TW Boys 0 #229 13 7,111
PE 0 #239 72 6,350
GH 0 #244 5 5,396
AO Boys 0 #247 3 5,568
SG 0 #247 23 11,010
BO Boys 0 #254 580 9,244
HR Boys 0 #258 2 3,997
MO Girls 0 #263 1 7,056
NG 0 #266 7 5,926
GR Boys 0 #270 4 6,912
NL 0 #278 116 2,481
SA 0 #279 17 10,560
IL 0 #280 3 6,291
JP Boys 0 #285 13 7,909
CN Boys 0 #286 34 9,639
Canada Boys 2024 #294 13 2,588
KZ Boys 0 #296 1 6,578
AL Boys 0 #299 5 5,122
GT 0 #303 12 5,948
CZ Boys 0 #304 2 6,530
CL Boys 0 #310 633 13,390
BO 0 #314 68 6,868
GH Boys 0 #314 32 8,138
MU Boys 0 #319 39 8,477
MY 0 #319 12 12,352
HK 0 #327 22 8,483
DK Boys 0 #330 3 7,401
GT Boys 0 #332 147 7,625
KZ Girls 0 #332 1 5,862
GH Girls 0 #337 1 6,973
PL Boys 0 #337 4 6,459
JO Girls 0 #339 1 7,570
CL 0 #357 55 6,867
France Boys 2021 #367 21 2,865
ZA 0 #370 78 14,421
PT Boys 0 #376 6 7,951
UY Boys 0 #384 16 5,922
JO Boys 0 #389 1 7,057
YE 0 #396 3 8,639
MX 0 #403 11 8,339
CM Boys 0 #404 153 12,054
HK Boys 0 #405 126 12,905
OM Girls 0 #423 2 15,987
Spain 0 #426 27 2,326
PH Girls 0 #426 4 13,098
Austria Boys 0 #431 12 2,180
AR Boys 0 #441 27 7,628
SD Boys 0 #466 1 10,523
ZA Boys 0 #490 1,092 25,619
RU Boys 0 #495 11 12,621
PS Boys 0 #516 33 10,655
PA Girls 0 #518 1 9,861
BH 0 #524 30 17,937
IQ Girls 0 #525 1 11,303
CM Girls 0 #531 10 11,671
GT Girls 0 #541 1 7,500
SG Boys 0 #551 147 17,960
KW Girls 0 #556 6 19,177
LY 0 #559 1 12,703
IR Boys 0 #562 4 10,162
CR Girls 0 #572 2 11,342
IL Boys 0 #584 24 10,983
BD Boys 0 #599 7 10,045
Spain Boys 0 #624 328 5,610
SG Girls 0 #630 3 18,916
QA Boys 0 #638 70 18,093
BO Girls 0 #649 3 9,488
HK Girls 0 #650 1 16,104
Finland Boys 2026 #663 20 3,552
United States Boys 2024 #667 227 7,044
MX Boys 0 #675 324 16,355
LB 0 #688 3 13,263
IQ Boys 0 #696 2 13,071
IT 0 #696 19 4,183
BR Boys 0 #715 37 12,213
KW Boys 0 #716 54 18,755
NG Boys 0 #762 194 16,906
SY 0 #767 1 11,684
NG Girls 0 #773 14 15,093
TN 0 #820 10 13,765
OM Boys 0 #837 45 17,948
Germany Boys 0 #885 68 5,697
United States Girls 2004 #911 6 9,828
CL Girls 0 #913 3 14,098
AE Boys 0 #918 175 22,615
SA Girls 0 #920 16 25,931
EG Boys 0 #923 3 15,035
PE Girls 0 #930 14 14,861
MY Boys 0 #967 145 25,439
EG Girls 0 #1,009 1 14,742
CO Girls 0 #1,024 55 16,140
IN Boys 0 #1,036 4 16,750
MA 0 #1,109 20 20,986
ZA Girls 0 #1,132 10 25,928
DZ 0 #1,166 11 20,130
IT Boys 0 #1,168 305 10,046
TR 0 #1,195 17 19,440
SA Boys 0 #1,237 383 28,008
MX Girls 0 #1,262 6 17,781

Harold is popular in 83 countries — most recent births per country:

France
Canada
Ireland
Wallonia, Belgium
United States

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People also ask about Harold

Harold is predominantly a boy's name.
Harold is a 2 syllable name, pronounced /ˈhærəld/ or /ˈhæroʊld/ (HAR-əld).
Common nicknames and spelling variations include Harald, Harrold, Herold, Haroldo, Haroldus and Haroald.
Across languages, Harold has these equivalents: Harald (Scandinavian/German), Haroldo (Spanish/Portuguese), Araldo (Italian), Harold / Harald (French), Haraldus (Latin).
Yes, very popular — Harold ranked #1 in Ireland in 2013, and appears in official birth registries across 7 countries.
Harold ranks highest in Ireland (#1 in 2013).
Harold's popularity is rising significantly. It moved from #387 in 2011 to #367 in 2021 in France.
Yes — 8 notable people named Harold are in our database, including Harold Macmillan (Politician), Harold Wilson (Politician), Harold Holt (Politician).
Yes — at least 1 celebrity couple has chosen Harold for their child, including Harold Lloyd.