Harriet

Harriet meaning

Harriet is an international girl's name of Germanic origin (via French).

Feminine of Harry (Henry): Germanic Heimerich, 'ruler of the house'

Also used to mean: ruler of the home, estate ruler

Harriet is the English feminine of Harry, the old familiar form of Henry, and the equivalent of the French Henriette. Etymonline traces Henry to the Old High German Heimerich, "the ruler of the house", from heim, "home", and rihhi, "ruler". Old English had the same two words: hām, which Bosworth-Toller gives as home, dwelling and estate, and rīce, power and rule. Two famous American bearers stand out: Harriet Tubman, who escaped slavery and then led many others to freedom on the Underground Railroad, and Harriet Beecher Stowe, author of Uncle Tom's Cabin. It shortens to Hattie or Hallie.

Source: Online Etymology Dictionary, s.v. Harriet; Henry · entry Harriet · See the entry · checked 25 Oct 2026

References: Online Etymology Dictionary, Harriet · Bosworth-Toller, hám · Bosworth-Toller, ríce (noun) · Wikipedia, Harriet Tubman

Famous namesakes

• Harriet Tubman, American abolitionist
• Harriet Beecher Stowe, author of Uncle Tom's Cabin

Popularity abroad

• #59 England and Wales, girls 2025
  Office for National Statistics

Official birth registrations. India publishes no national name statistics.

Spellings

Harriet · Harriett · Harriette

Related names

Also meaning leader

Also starting with Har-

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