Harold

Q: What is the origin of Harold?

Harold is of Old Norse origin. The name carries significant cultural meaning and has been used across generations within its origin tradition.

Q: Is Harold a boy name?

Harold is traditionally a boy name. Modern naming practices are increasingly flexible, and names can be used across genders based on personal choice and cultural context.

male

Updated 7 months ago

Meaning

"Army Ruler"

From elements meaning army and rule, used in medieval Scandinavia and England with long-standing historical attestation.

Themes:armyrulenorsegermanic

Royal Regal Vintage Retro

Fact-checked by Dr. Elena Vasquez

Ph.D. Medieval History, StanfordPublished Academic ResearcherHistory Professor (Adjunct) • Historical Names Consultant

This name has been verified against authoritative sources including SSA data, etymology databases, and cultural naming traditions.

Popularity History of Harold

Full SSA rank history from 1880 to 2024

#988Top 1000

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Yearly Ranking Snapshot

Pick any SSA release year to inspect that year's national ranking and how it changed from the year before.

Year

Selected Year Rank

#988

Harold was nationally ranked in 2024.

Change Vs Previous Year

-67

lower than 2023

Data Source

Popularity rankings are based on official data from the Social Security Administration (SSA), which tracks baby name applications in the United States.

Last updated: 2024 • Data source updated annually

Harold Nicknames

Familiar short forms, playful variations, and easy everyday options for Harold.

12 ideas

Harry

Nickname

Hal

Nickname

hary

Nickname

haro

Nickname

rold

Nickname

oldy

Nickname

roly

Nickname

hie

Nickname

hhie

Nickname

Similar Names to Harold

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“Manly; Strong”

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AR-ther

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Albert

AL-bert

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AL-fred

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Arnold

“Eagle Power”

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Armando

“Army Man”

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Avery

AY-vuh-ree

“Ruler of Elves”

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August

“Great and Venerable”

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Alberto

“Noble and Bright”

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Baby Name Lists That Include Harold

Browse every Namylab list page that currently includes Harold, from meaning and origin collections to letter, syllable, and themed baby name lists.

18 linked lists

Famous Harolds

K
King Harold II
Last Anglo-Saxon King of England, defeated at the Battle of Hastings
H
Harold Pinter
British Nobel Prize-winning playwright

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

What does the name Harold mean?

Harold means "Army Ruler". From elements meaning army and rule, used in medieval Scandinavia and England with long-standing historical attestation.

What is the origin of Harold?

Harold is of Old Norse origin. The name has been used historically across cultures and carries significant cultural meaning within its origin tradition.

How popular is the name Harold?

According to the latest SSA data, Harold is currently ranked #988 in the United States. The name has shown interesting trends over the past century, with popularity varying based on cultural preferences and naming trends.

Is Harold a boy name?

Harold is traditionally a boy name. However, modern naming practices are increasingly flexible, and names can be used across genders based on personal preference.

What are good nicknames for Harold?

Popular nicknames for Harold include Harry, Hal, hary, haro, and more. These offer shorter, more casual alternatives for everyday use.

What names are similar to Harold?

There are many names similar to Harold in meaning, origin, or sound. Explore the Similar Names section to discover alternatives that may resonate with you.

Quick Facts

OriginOld Norse, Germanic

Syllables2

Length6 letters

US Rank#988

Trend↓ Falling

Starts withH

Sibling Ideas

Brothers

Bjorn Dustin Leif Eric Alva

Sisters

Astrid Alva Arna Astryd Alvilda

Explore More Boy Names Like Harold

Harold has Old Norse roots, making it a wonderful choice if you love names from this heritage. Discover more options in our Old Norse baby names collection, where you'll find hundreds of names with similar cultural depth.

Harold appears in several of our curated collections. Check out Names That Mean Warrior and Scandinavian Baby Names for more names with a similar feel. You might also enjoy browsing Viking Baby Names and Vintage Baby Names.

Before you decide, try our Full Name Preview to see how Harold pairs with your surname. The Sibling Name Matcher can help find names that complement Harold beautifully, and the Nickname Predictor reveals the most common short forms.

Explore our full baby name lists for origin-based, meaning-based, and themed collections, or head back to the baby name generator to continue your search.