Boy
Harold
army ruler, leader of the army
About Harold
Time-tested and dignified, this name connects contemporary children to generations of distinguished bearers throughout English history. The strong Germanic roots provide solid foundation, suggesting someone reliable, capable, and honorable. While it may not dominate current popularity charts, that very quality appeals to parents seeking something substantial and underused. The name possesses a certain gravitas that commands respect, appropriate for someone destined for leadership or creative achievement. The balanced two-syllable structure provides comfortable rhythm without excessive complexity. Its traditional nature paradoxically makes it feel fresh in an era dominated by newer inventions and repurposed surnames. The potential for nickname "Harry" offers a more playful alternative for childhood while maintaining the distinguished full form for formal occasions. It pairs particularly well with modern middle names, creating interesting generational contrast. For families who value classic choices with proven longevity over fleeting trends, this represents a considered, confident selection.
Popularity of the Name Harold
Rank among the 1,000 most popular baby names, by year.
| United States | United Kingdom | New Zealand | Ireland | Canada | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | #116 | ||||
| 1881 | #106 | ||||
| 1882 | #115 | ||||
| 1883 | #117 | ||||
| 1884 | #85 | ||||
| 1885 | #82 | ||||
| 1886 | #78 | ||||
| 1887 | #61 | ||||
| 1888 | #70 | ||||
| 1889 | #57 | ||||
| 1890 | #47 | ||||
| 1891 | #42 | ||||
| 1892 | #37 | ||||
| 1893 | #34 | ||||
| 1894 | #32 | ||||
| 1895 | #29 | ||||
| 1896 | #23 | ||||
| 1897 | #21 | ||||
| 1898 | #22 | ||||
| 1899 | #19 | ||||
| 1900 | #20 | #13 | |||
| 1901 | #21 | #18 | |||
| 1902 | #19 | #20 | |||
| 1903 | #20 | #15 | |||
| 1904 | #20 | #14 | |||
| 1905 | #20 | #17 | |||
| 1906 | #17 | #15 | |||
| 1907 | #17 | #16 | |||
| 1908 | #17 | #18 | |||
| 1909 | #16 | #16 | |||
| 1910 | #18 | #21 | |||
| 1911 | #16 | #19 | |||
| 1912 | #13 | #17 | |||
| 1913 | #13 | #17 | |||
| 1914 | #14 | #19 | |||
| 1915 | #12 | #18 | |||
| 1916 | #13 | #21 | |||
| 1917 | #12 | #23 | |||
| 1918 | #13 | #22 | |||
| 1919 | #13 | #23 | |||
| 1920 | #12 | #22 | |||
| 1921 | #12 | #22 | |||
| 1922 | #13 | #36 | |||
| 1923 | #13 | #38 | |||
| 1924 | #13 | #37 | |||
| 1925 | #14 | #30 | |||
| 1926 | #14 | #36 | |||
| 1927 | #14 | #37 | |||
| 1928 | #14 | #44 | |||
| 1929 | #16 | #48 | |||
| 1930 | #18 | #45 | |||
| 1931 | #18 | #53 | |||
| 1932 | #18 | #63 | |||
| 1933 | #18 | #59 | |||
| 1934 | #18 | #54 | |||
| 1935 | #20 | #51 | |||
| 1936 | #21 | #66 | |||
| 1937 | #21 | #98 | |||
| 1938 | #23 | #69 | |||
| 1939 | #23 | #72 | |||
| 1940 | #23 | #77 | |||
| 1941 | #24 | #81 | |||
| 1942 | #27 | #80 | |||
| 1943 | #27 | #94 | |||
| 1944 | #27 | #95 | |||
| 1945 | #28 | #81 | |||
| 1946 | #33 | #82 | |||
| 1947 | #35 | #83 | |||
| 1948 | #36 | #106 | |||
| 1949 | #42 | #121 | |||
| 1950 | #45 | #110 | |||
| 1951 | #46 | #105 | |||
| 1952 | #51 | #122 | |||
| 1953 | #56 | #133 | |||
| 1954 | #60 | #125 | |||
| 1955 | #63 | #130 | |||
| 1956 | #72 | #141 | |||
| 1957 | #74 | #147 | |||
| 1958 | #84 | #154 | |||
| 1959 | #87 | #175 | |||
| 1960 | #92 | #151 | |||
| 1961 | #94 | #167 | |||
| 1962 | #95 | #194 | |||
| 1963 | #96 | #207 | |||
| 1964 | #98 | #160 | #151 | ||
| 1965 | #99 | #249 | #135 | ||
| 1966 | #99 | #204 | |||
| 1967 | #104 | #226 | #232 | ||
| 1968 | #108 | #247 | #181 | ||
| 1969 | #117 | #210 | |||
| 1970 | #122 | #264 | #181 | ||
| 1971 | #130 | #299 | #221 | ||
| 1972 | #132 | #296 | #198 | ||
| 1973 | #140 | #261 | |||
| 1974 | #146 | #305 | |||
| 1975 | #153 | #306 | |||
| 1976 | #162 | #299 | |||
| 1977 | #167 | #283 | |||
| 1978 | #190 | #268 | |||
| 1979 | #195 | #355 | |||
| 1980 | #207 | #274 | |||
| 1981 | #223 | ||||
| 1982 | #225 | ||||
| 1983 | #239 | #279 | |||
| 1984 | #254 | #244 | |||
| 1985 | #259 | #328 | |||
| 1986 | #270 | ||||
| 1987 | #272 | ||||
| 1988 | #290 | ||||
| 1989 | #305 | #287 | |||
| 1990 | #324 | ||||
| 1991 | #355 | #604 | |||
| 1992 | #355 | #640 | |||
| 1993 | #381 | #244 | #713 | ||
| 1994 | #441 | #672 | |||
| 1995 | #441 | #679 | |||
| 1996 | #442 | #399 | #759 | ||
| 1997 | #490 | #555 | #414 | #702 | |
| 1998 | #514 | #572 | #790 | ||
| 1999 | #514 | #647 | #415 | ||
| 2000 | #538 | #633 | #434 | ||
| 2001 | #556 | #904 | #455 | #962 | |
| 2002 | #588 | #910 | #774 | ||
| 2003 | #611 | ||||
| 2004 | #613 | #460 | #993 | ||
| 2005 | #627 | #576 | #953 | ||
| 2006 | #650 | #951 | |||
| 2007 | #681 | ||||
| 2008 | #735 | ||||
| 2009 | #825 | #644 | |||
| 2010 | #745 | ||||
| 2011 | #841 | ||||
| 2012 | #836 | #797 | |||
| 2013 | #892 | #783 | |||
| 2014 | #830 | ||||
| 2015 | #809 | ||||
| 2016 | #802 | ||||
| 2017 | #800 | #979 | #976 | ||
| 2018 | #797 | ||||
| 2019 | #815 | ||||
| 2020 | #932 | ||||
| 2021 | #955 | ||||
| 2022 | #925 | ||||
| 2023 | #914 | ||||
| 2024 | #989 | ||||
| 2025 | #993 |
Top names by country: United States · United Kingdom · New Zealand · Ireland · Canada
Variations of Name Harold
- Harald
- Hereweald
- Hervé
- Harrell
Names Similar to Harold
Nicknames for Harold
- Harry
- Hal
- Hank
- Roldy
Famous People Named Harold
| Harold Pinter | English playwright and Nobel laureate |
| Harold Ramis | American actor, writer, and director |
| Harold Lloyd | American silent film actor |
| Harold Macmillan | British Prime Minister |
| Harold Wilson | British Prime Minister |
| Harold Holt | Australian Prime Minister |
| Harold Bloom | American literary critic |
| Harold Washington | American politician and Mayor of Chicago |
| Harold Robbins | American author |
| Harold Ford Jr. | American politician |
| Harold Miner | American former NBA player |
| Harold Acton | English writer and aesthete |
| Harold Melvin | American singer and songwriter |
| Harold Stassen | American politician and statesman |
| Harold Perrineau | American actor |
| Harold Nicolson | English diplomat and author |
| Harold Abrahams | British athlete and Olympic gold medalist |
| Harold Shipman | British doctor and serial killer |
| Harold Camping | American Christian radio broadcaster |
Characters Named Harold
| Harold Finch | Character from the TV series "Person of Interest" |
| Harold Hill | Character from the musical "The Music Man" |
| Harold Potter | Character from the "Harry Potter" book series |
| Harold Berman | Character from the TV show "Hey Arnold!" |
| Harold Lauder | Character from Stephen King's novel "The Stand" |
| Harold Zidler | Character from the movie "Moulin Rouge!" |
| Harold Crick | Character from the film "Stranger than Fiction" |
| Harold Lee | Character from the "Harold & Kumar" film series |
| Harold "Happy" Hogan | Character from Marvel Comics and the "Iron Man" films |
| Harold Lamb | Character from the film "Harold and Maude" |
| Harold Wormser | Character from the film "Revenge of the Nerds" |
| Harold "Oscar" Diggs | Character from the film "Oz the Great and Powerful" |
| Harold Brixton | Character from the TV show "CSI - Miami" |
| Harold "Mitch" Mitchell | Character from Tennessee Williams' play "A Streetcar Named Desire" |
| Harold "Ace" Morgan | Character from the graphic novel "Watchmen" |
| Harold Abrahams | Character from the TV series "Peaky Blinders" |
| Harold Lowe | Character from the film "Titanic" |
| Harold Patterson | Character from the TV show "Suits" |