Harriet
Anglicized form of French Henriette, feminine form of Henri (“Henry”), popular in England in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Every Harriet since 1880 — 90,427 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Harriet
Harriet is uncommon for girls in the United States, ranked #1,073 in 2025 with 226 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1880, 90,427 American babies have been named Harriet. Its peak came in 1921, when 2,395 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1920s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Harriet stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Harriet year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 226 | #1,073 | — | — |
| 2024 | 210 | #1,151 | — | — |
| 2023 | 215 | #1,131 | — | — |
| 2022 | 218 | #1,129 | — | — |
| 2021 | 239 | #1,056 | — | — |
| 2020 | 230 | #1,076 | — | — |
| 2019 | 261 | #991 | — | — |
| 2018 | 248 | #1,040 | — | — |
| 2017 | 211 | #1,169 | — | — |
| 2016 | 175 | #1,356 | — | — |
| 2015 | 182 | #1,307 | — | — |
| 2014 | 132 | #1,627 | — | — |
| 2013 | 129 | #1,649 | — | — |
| 2012 | 89 | #2,136 | — | — |
| 2011 | 87 | #2,178 | — | — |
| 2010 | 56 | #3,020 | — | — |
| 2009 | 55 | #3,106 | — | — |
| 2008 | 36 | #4,304 | — | — |
| 2007 | 61 | #2,944 | — | — |
| 2006 | 61 | #2,865 | — | — |
| 2005 | 44 | #3,424 | — | — |
| 2004 | 31 | #4,427 | — | — |
| 2003 | 43 | #3,378 | — | — |
| 2002 | 38 | #3,543 | — | — |
| 2001 | 43 | #3,216 | — | — |
| 2000 | 37 | #3,546 | — | — |
| 1995 | 36 | #3,171 | — | — |
| 1990 | 35 | #3,177 | — | — |
| 1985 | 46 | #2,232 | — | — |
| 1980 | 57 | #1,891 | — | — |
| 1975 | 76 | #1,386 | — | — |
| 1970 | 169 | #819 | — | — |
| 1965 | 290 | #559 | — | — |
| 1960 | 470 | #451 | — | — |
| 1955 | 693 | #327 | — | — |
| 1950 | 934 | #246 | — | — |
| 1945 | 1,175 | #176 | — | — |
| 1940 | 1,363 | #157 | — | — |
| 1935 | 1,294 | #157 | — | — |
| 1930 | 1,598 | #138 | 8 | #3,136 |
| 1925 | 2,067 | #131 | — | — |
| 1920 | 2,360 | #112 | — | — |
| 1915 | 1,849 | #112 | — | — |
| 1910 | 637 | #126 | — | — |
| 1905 | 413 | #144 | — | — |
| 1900 | 461 | #134 | — | — |
| 1895 | 435 | #113 | — | — |
| 1890 | 399 | #102 | — | — |
| 1885 | 342 | #89 | — | — |
| 1880 | 319 | #73 | — | — |
Famous people named Harriet
- Harriet Beecher Stowe Writer · 1811–1896
- Harriet Tubman Writer · 1820–1913
- Harriet Andersson Actor · b. 1932
- Harriet Taylor Mill Philosopher · 1807–1858
- Harriet Martineau Economist · 1802–1876
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Harriet mean?
Anglicized form of French Henriette, feminine form of Henri (“Henry”), popular in England in the 18th and 19th centuries.
How popular is the name Harriet in 2025?
Harriet ranked #1,073 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 226 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Harriet?
90,427 babies have been named Harriet in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Harriet most popular?
Harriet peaked in 1921, when 2,395 newborns received the name.
Is Harriet a boy or girl name?
Harriet is overwhelmingly a girl's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Harriet rising or falling?
Harriet is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Harriet?
Well-known people named Harriet include Harriet Beecher Stowe (writer), Harriet Tubman (writer), Harriet Andersson (actor).