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Harriet as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Harriet

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The baby name Harriet is a Female name , 3 syllables long and is pronounced /ˈhæriət/ (HARR-ee-it).

Harriet is English in Origin.

Gender: Female
Syllables: 3.0
Origin: English
Pronunciation: /ˈhæriət/ (HARR-ee-it)

What is the meaning of the name Harriet ?

The baby name Harriet is a Female name , 3 syllables long and is pronounced /ˈhæriət/ (HARR-ee-it).

Harriet is English in Origin.

Harriet is the English feminine form of Harry/Henry, closely related to French Henriette, and it ultimately derives from the Germanic name Heinrich, composed of heim “home, estate” + ric “ruler, power.” The traditional interpretation is “ruler of the home” or “estate ruler.” Records show the feminine form in England from the 1600s, often spelled Harriot, before stabilizing as Harriet.

Usage spread widely in Georgian and Victorian Britain and crossed the Atlantic, with 19th-century prominence helped by figures such as abolitionist Harriet Tubman and novelist Harriet Beecher Stowe. The name waned in the mid-20th century but has enjoyed a modern revival in the UK as a vintage classic. Variant spellings include Harriett and Harriette; the related elaboration is Henrietta. Common diminutives are Hattie, Hetty/Hettie, and less often Etta. International cognates include French Henriette, Spanish Enriqueta, Italian Enrichetta, and German Henriette.

Harriet has the following similar or variant Names

Famous people with the name Harriet

Harriet Andersson Actor · Born 1932 · Sweden Harriet Andersson is a Swedish actress best known internationally for her work with director Ingmar Bergman. She appeared in acclaimed films like Summer with Monika, Through a Glass Darkly, and Cries and Whispers, and was known for playing impulsive, working-class characters. Harriet Walter Actor · Born 1950 · United Kingdom Harriet Walter is an English actress best known for her acclaimed stage and screen work. She has won an Olivier Award and has also been nominated for a Tony Award, five Emmy Awards, and a Screen Actors Guild Award. Harriet Sansom Harris Actor · Born 1955 · United States Harriet Sansom Harris is an American actress best known for playing Bebe Glazer on Frasier and Felicia Tilman on Desperate Housewives. She’s also acclaimed for her theater work, winning the 2002 Tony Award for Featured Actress in a Musical for Thoroughly Modern Millie.
Harriet Nelson Actor · Born 1909 · United States Harriet Nelson was an American actress best known for starring on the sitcom The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet. Born Peggy Lou Snyder and formerly known as Harriet Hilliard, she became a familiar television star through that hit family series.

Harriet – Popularity by country

Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.

Country Gender Year Rank Born of
Ireland Girls 2025 #1 874
CN 0 #85 2 3,857
GH Girls 0 #100 495 6,973
TW 0 #102 2 4,523
Norway Girls 2025 #114 13 453
OM 0 #119 3 6,215
KW 0 #121 1 5,216
CY Girls 0 #124 2 3,755
EE Girls 0 #139 4 1,888
Sweden Girls 2022 #143 37 1,568
BW Girls 0 #144 8 4,216
MT Girls 0 #153 1 3,773
CR 0 #164 2 5,526
GH 0 #173 71 5,396
AE 0 #184 4 10,220
LU Girls 0 #190 1 4,850
DK 0 #204 3 5,198
PL 0 #212 1 2,600
NA Girls 0 #215 10 7,146
PS 0 #226 1 5,692
MO Boys 0 #234 1 5,842
MO Girls 0 #239 13 7,056
GR Girls 0 #245 5 6,293
Canada Girls 2024 #250 36 2,795
NG 0 #252 13 5,926
TW Boys 0 #256 1 7,111
EC Girls 0 #258 1 3,650
Finland Girls 0 #275 124 1,368
JM Girls 0 #276 3 7,507
IL 0 #279 4 6,291
SG 0 #280 3 11,010
TW Girls 0 #284 6 8,139
Finland 0 #290 18 830
DK Girls 0 #296 21 7,429
QA Girls 0 #304 13 15,378
GH Boys 0 #335 11 8,138
JO Girls 0 #335 5 7,570
OM Girls 0 #335 62 15,987
HK 0 #337 12 8,483
CN Girls 0 #340 10 8,829
MY 0 #347 8 12,352
CZ Girls 0 #348 4 5,378
SD Girls 0 #358 1 7,678
Finland Girls 2026 #360 748 3,895
MU Girls 0 #362 1 8,539
PL Girls 0 #364 1 5,096
NL 0 #372 20 2,481
PH Girls 0 #376 15 13,098
France Girls 2020 #391 4 3,215
YE 0 #398 1 8,639
BD Girls 0 #406 1 8,413
PH Boys 0 #407 2 11,440
EG 0 #410 3 6,387
ZA 0 #415 33 14,421
CL 0 #433 2 6,867
MX 0 #445 1 8,339
PT Girls 0 #468 4 7,952
NG Girls 0 #470 374 15,093
KW Girls 0 #488 28 19,177
AE Girls 0 #508 46 20,968
CM Girls 0 #508 33 11,671
CO 0 #510 1 7,768
PA Girls 0 #516 3 9,861
RU Girls 0 #519 5 11,913
IQ Girls 0 #520 6 11,303
CR Girls 0 #521 12 11,342
UY Girls 0 #536 1 6,731
HK Girls 0 #537 79 16,104
GT Girls 0 #541 1 7,500
PS Girls 0 #541 7 10,981
IR Girls 0 #542 4 8,334
HK Boys 0 #557 1 12,905
LY 0 #559 1 12,703
PS Boys 0 #561 1 10,655
SG Girls 0 #562 25 18,916
BH 0 #587 1 17,937
BD Boys 0 #605 1 10,045
IL Girls 0 #607 11 11,648
ZA Girls 0 #639 627 25,928
NL Girls 0 #658 306 5,933
LB 0 #690 1 13,263
CL Boys 0 #699 2 13,390
IT 0 #704 11 4,183
United States Girls 2024 #709 208 8,487
SG Boys 0 #739 1 17,960
QA Boys 0 #743 1 18,093
Germany Girls 0 #758 81 4,949
KW Boys 0 #805 2 18,755
CL Girls 0 #836 16 14,098
TN 0 #865 1 13,765
SA Girls 0 #891 45 25,931
Spain Boys 0 #916 15 5,610
OM Boys 0 #917 2 17,948
PE Boys 0 #923 4 14,506
EG Girls 0 #949 11 14,742
Spain Girls 0 #965 19 5,561
MY Girls 0 #973 22 24,821
NG Boys 0 #996 6 16,906
PE Girls 0 #1,004 7 14,861
AE Boys 0 #1,142 2 22,615
CO Girls 0 #1,146 7 16,140
ZA Boys 0 #1,165 14 25,619
MX Girls 0 #1,174 10 17,781
TR 0 #1,201 11 19,440
DZ 0 #1,233 2 20,130
IT Girls 0 #1,377 70 9,415
SA Boys 0 #1,684 8 28,008

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

Scotland, United Kingdom
Norway
Ireland
Canada
England & Wales, United Kingdom

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People also ask about Harriet

Harriet is predominantly a girl's name.
Harriet is a 3 syllable name, pronounced /ˈhæriət/ (HARR-ee-it).
Common nicknames and spelling variations include Harriett, Harriette, Henrietta, Hattie, Hetty and Hettie.
Yes, very popular — Harriet ranked #1 in Ireland in 2025, and appears in official birth registries across 9 countries.
Harriet ranks highest in Ireland (#1 in 2025).
Harriet's popularity is holding steady. It moved from #1 in 2015 to #1 in 2025 in Ireland.
Yes — 4 notable people named Harriet are in our database, including Harriet Andersson (Actor), Harriet Walter (Actor), Harriet Sansom Harris (Actor).