Harriet

Did you know?

A few things about Harriet you might not know, from US birth records and Wikipedia. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.

⭐ Famous Harriet

Harriet Beecher Stowe

American abolitionist and author (1811–1896)

Choose Harriet and your child shares a first name with Harriet Beecher Stowe, an American abolitionist and author. A ready-made answer when someone asks “Harriet, like who?” Harriet Beecher Stowe's Wikipedia article is available in 118 languages, a good sign of just how widely known they are.

Read about Harriet Beecher Stowe on Wikipedia ↗ (opens in a new tab)

Photo: not specified, Public domain (opens in a new tab), via Wikimedia Commons

• 👶How commonAbout 1 in every 7,112 baby girls born in the US in 2025 was named Harriet, 226 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Harriet would very likely be the only one.
• 📜HistoryHarriet has been in use since at least 1880, the first year US birth records were kept. That's 145 years of Harriets, and counting.
• 🏆Best yearIt was far more popular in 1880, when it ranked #73. Today it's #1,071, so it could be due a comeback.
• 📈Then vs nowHarriet is 6.9× more common today than it was in 2000. In 2000 it was given to about 1 in 49,020 baby girls; in 2025, about 1 in 7,112.
• 📍Where it's lovedHarriet is most popular in Washington, D.C., where it ranks #119, followed by Minnesota (#502) and New York (#658). It's in the top 1,000 in 12 states.
• 💬MeaningHarriet is an English form of Henry, which means “home ruler”. Our records link it to Anglo Saxon, English and French roots.

About the name Harriet

Harriet is a girl name of Anglo Saxon, English and French origin meaning “home ruler”. It has 7 letters and 2 syllables, starting with H and ending in “-iet”. US birth records list Harriet for girls from 1880 to 2025, in 146 of those 146 years. Its best year was 1880, when it ranked #73 among girl names. In 2025 it ranked #1,071, with 226 babies.

Origin:Anglo Saxon namesEnglish namesFrench namesGerman namesOld German names