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: How popular is the name Harold?

According to the latest SSA data, Harold is currently ranked #999999 in the United States. The popularity of this name has evolved over the past century based on cultural preferences and naming trends.

Q: Is Harold a girl name?

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

female

Updated 6 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 Unique Rare

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

UnrankedNot ranked in 2024

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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

Unranked

Harold did not appear in the national SSA rankings for 2024.

Change Vs Previous Year

no national rank in 2024

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.

10 ideas

Harry

Nickname

Hal

Nickname

haro

Nickname

hary

Nickname

roly

Nickname

oldy

Nickname

rold

Nickname

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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.

17 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 not ranked 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 girl name?

Harold is traditionally a girl 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, haro, hary, 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

Trend→ Stable

Starts withH

Sibling Ideas

Brothers

Alva Arvid Arn Crosby Canuto

Sisters

Alva Arna Astryd Alvilda Alfhild

Explore More Girl 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 Unique Baby Names and Viking 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.