henry

Pronunciation
HEN-ree

Gender
male

Origin

German; English

Ranking

  8 (as of 2023)

Meaning: Home ruler; Ruler of the household

Henry, a classic boy's name that won't be going out of style anytime soon, comes from the Germanic name Heimirich, which is composed of the Germanic elements heim, meaning "home," and rih, meaning "ruler." Henry was a top-100 boy's name every year between 1900 and 1968. It remained in the top-150 until re-entering the top-100 in 2006. It has now been a top-10 boy's name every year since 2020. Several celebrities have helped keep the name relevant by giving it to their sons, including actress Julia Roberts, actress Emily Deschanel, "Today" host Jenna Bush Hager (she calls her son Hal, but his first name is Henry) and "Counting On" star Jessa Duggar.

Famous People Named Henry

  Henry Ford

  Founder of Ford Motor Company and pioneer of assembly line production

  Henry David Thoreau

  American naturalist and philosopher known for his book 'Walden'

  Henry Cavill

  Actor known for playing Superman in the DC movies

  Henry Louis Gates Jr.

  Historian and filmmaker known for his work on African American history

  Henry Winkler

  Actor and author known for his role as 'The Fonz' and children's books

  Henry Hudson

  Explorer who discovered the Hudson River

  Henry Purcell

  Famous English composer of Baroque music

  Henry Matisse

  Renowned French artist known for his use of color

  Henry the Navigator

  Portuguese prince who sponsored many explorations

  Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

  Famous American poet known for 'Paul Revere's Ride'

Famous Media with people Named Henry

    Henry Hugglemonster

    A Disney Junior show about a friendly monster named Henry  

    Henry the Green Engine

    A character from 'Thomas & Friends', a green train engine  

    Henry and Mudge

    A book series about a boy named Henry and his big dog, Mudge  

    Henry's Cat

    An animated series about a laid-back yellow cat named Henry  

    The Henry Stickmin Collection

    A series of choose-your-own-adventure games featuring Henry Stickmin  

    Henry Pym

    A superhero character from Marvel Comics, also known as Ant-Man  

    King Henry VIII

    A historical figure often depicted in movies and books  

    Henry's Amazing Animals

    A children's TV series about animals hosted by a puppet named Henry  

    Henry V

    A play by William Shakespeare about the English king  

    Henry Danger

    A Nickelodeon show about a boy who becomes a superhero's sidekick