Henry is a classic and timeless name of Germanic origin. It is derived from the Old Germanic personal name Heinrich, which was composed of the elements heimin meaning "home" or "estate," and rīc meaning "powerful" or "strong." Thus, Henry means "home ruler" or "strong home."
The name Henry first gained prominence during the Middle Ages through the Holy Roman Emperors known as the Salian dynasty, all named Heinrich. The most famous of these was Frederick I Barbarossa, who ruled from 1152 to 1190 and took part in the Third Crusade.
In England, the name Henry became popular after William the Conqueror's successor, William II, died without an heir. In 1154, the English throne passed to Matilda, William's daughter, who was married to Holy Roman Emperor Heinrich V. Their son, known as Henry Plantagenet, would become king of England in 1154 and start a new royal dynasty called the House of Plantagenet.
Throughout history, numerous notable figures have borne the name Henry, including:
* Henry VII (1457-1509), the first Tudor monarch of England.
* Henry VIII (1491-1547), known for his six marriages and the English Reformation.
* Henry IV (1553-1610), king of France from 1589 to 1610, famous for ending religious wars and establishing the French absolute monarchy.
Today, Henry remains a popular choice among parents, ranked as one of the top 100 names for boys in several countries, including the United States, Canada, and England. Its enduring appeal can be attributed to its classic sound, strong meaning, and rich historical significance.
The name Henry has been a popular choice for parents in the United States for over a century, as indicated by the annual birth statistics provided. Between 1880 and 2023, there were a total of 4,585 births registered with the first name Henry.
During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the name Henry experienced periods of high popularity, particularly between 1910 and 1926. The highest number of births recorded in this period was 110 in 1925. However, after the mid-1930s, the usage of the name Henry began to decline steadily.
Despite its decreasing popularity, Henry remained a relatively common name throughout much of the 20th century. In the 1970s and 1980s, there were still around 15 to 27 births per year with this name. However, since the 1990s, the number of annual Henry births has significantly decreased, with fewer than 10 births recorded each year.
In recent years, there has been a slight resurgence in the popularity of the name Henry, with 16 births recorded in 2018 and 15 births in both 2021 and 2022. This increase may indicate that parents are once again considering Henry as an attractive option for their children's names.
Overall, while the popularity of the name Henry has fluctuated over time, it has remained a consistent choice among parents throughout American history.