Henry

Henry comes from the Germanic name Heimirich, meaning “home ruler,” formed from heim “home” and rih “ruler.” The later spelling Heinrich was influenced by other Germanic names such as Haganrich, whose first element is hag “enclosure.” Heinrich was popular among continental royalty, borne by seven German kings beginning with Henry I the Fowler in the 10th century, the first Saxon king, and by four French kings; in France it was usually rendered Henri from the Latin Henricus. The Normans brought the French form to England, where it was used by eight kings, ending with Henry VIII in the 16th century, and in the later Middle Ages it was fairly common, often pronounced Harry or Herry. Notable bearers include the arctic explorer Henry Hudson (1570–1611), the novelist Henry James (1843–1916), the automobile manufacturer Henry Ford (1863–1947), and the actor Henry Fonda (1905–1982).

Henry has risen sharply in the modern US rankings, moving from #126 in 2000 to #5 in 2025. It entered its current top-10 run in 2020 and now stands at #5. That year also produced its highest recorded birth count, at 12,020.