Harold
Harold: name meaning, origin and popularity
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈhæɹəld/
Meaning and origin of Harold
Root meaning: “army”
- A male given name from Old English or Old Norse.
Etymology
From a merger of Old English Hereweald and Old English Harold (itself from Old Norse Haraldr), both from Proto-Germanic *Harjawaldaz, from *harjaz (“army”) + *waldaz (“ruler, authority”). Related to Walter, which has the elements reversed. Cognate with Danish, Norwegian Nynorsk, and Swedish Harald, Faroese and Icelandic Haraldur.
How popular is Harold?
Since 1880, 2,648 girls and 551,632 boys in the U.S. have been named Harold (0% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #707 in 1929. Its highest rank for boys was #12 in 1915. In 2025 it ranked #993 for boys, with 230 babies given the name.
Names similar to Harold
Names that start with the same letters, most popular first.
Harold FAQ
What does the name Harold mean?
Harold traces back to a root meaning "army". A male given name from Old English or Old Norse. From a merger of Old English Hereweald and Old English Harold (itself from Old Norse Haraldr), both from Proto-Germanic *Harjawaldaz, from *harjaz (“army”) + *waldaz (“ruler, authority”). Related to Walter, which has the elements reversed. Cognate with Danish, Norwegian Nynorsk, and Swedish Harald, Faroese and Icelandic Haraldur.
What is the origin of the name Harold?
Harold is listed as a name of Old English or Old Norse origin.
How popular is the name Harold?
Since 1880, 2,648 girls and 551,632 boys in the U.S. have been named Harold (0% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #707 in 1929. Its highest rank for boys was #12 in 1915. In 2025 it ranked #993 for boys, with 230 babies given the name.
Is Harold a boy or girl name?
Harold is mostly a boy name in the U.S.: 2,648 girls and 551,632 boys since 1880.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880–2025 (names given to 5+ babies per year). Origin and etymology text: Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.