Harriet is a female given name of English origin. It is derived from the Old German word "Heribert," which is composed of two elements: "hari" meaning "army" or "warrior" and "berht" meaning "bright" or "famous." Therefore, Harriet can be translated to mean "bright army" or "famous warrior."
The name Harriet has been in use for centuries. It was particularly popular during the Victorian era in England, when it was often given to girls born into middle-class families. Notable individuals named Harriet include American abolitionist and women's rights activist Harriet Tubman, English novelist Harriet Beecher Stowe, and British suffragette Harriet Taylor Miller.
While the name Harriet has traditionally been associated with females, it can also be used for males. In recent years, however, it has become more popular as a girl's name. According to data from the Social Security Administration in the United States, Harriet ranked 683rd in popularity for girls in 2019.
In literature and pop culture, Harriet has been the name of several notable characters, such as Harriet Welsch from Louise Fitzhugh's children's book "Harriet the Spy," Harriet Vane from Dorothy L. Sayers' detective novel series featuring Lord Peter Wimsey, and Harriet "Harry" Potter from J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter book series.
Overall, Harriet is a strong, historic name with a compelling meaning that has been carried by many notable individuals throughout history. Its roots in Old German provide it with a timeless, yet approachable feel, making it a popular choice for parents seeking a name with a rich past and enduring appeal.
The name Harriet has seen a varied trend in popularity over the years in the United States. Between 1880 and 1920, it was quite popular, with the highest number of births recorded in 1917 at 2345 babies named Harriet.
However, after 1920, there was a steady decline in its popularity, reaching its lowest point in recent years in 2022 with only 214 births. Despite this decline, it's important to note that the total number of births has also decreased significantly over time due to changes in population size and birth rates.
From the late 1970s onwards, Harriet was rarely used as a baby name, with fewer than 50 births recorded per year from 1978 to 2004. However, there seems to be a recent resurgence of interest in this historic name, with over 100 births each year since 2006.
It's fascinating to observe how the popularity of names can change over time and generations. While Harriet may not be as popular as it once was, its historical significance remains evident in these statistics.