Harriette is a feminine given name of English origin. It is derived from the French name Harriet, which in turn is derived from the German name Henrietta. The name Henrietta is composed of two elements: the Germanic word "heim" meaning home, and the Teutonic word "ric" meaning power or ruler.
The name Harriette therefore means "home ruler" or "ruler of the home". It has been used in England since the Middle Ages, but it became more popular during the Victorian era. In the United States, the name Harriette was most commonly used between 1880 and 1920.
Some notable people named Harriette include the American socialite and philanthropist Harriet Lane (1834-1903), who served as First Lady of the United States during the presidency of her uncle, James Buchanan; and the British novelist and poet Harriet Beecher Stowe (1811-1896), author of the famous anti-slavery novel "Uncle Tom's Cabin".
Based on the statistical data provided, the name Harriette has seen a significant decline in popularity over the past century and a half in the United States.
The highest number of births with the name Harriette occurred in 1915, with 231 births. This peak was followed by a steady decline, with the number of births falling to just 11 in 2022, marking an over 95% decrease in popularity since its peak.
The most recent data shows that there were 7 births with the name Harriette in 2023, indicating that while it remains a rare name, it has not completely disappeared from use. However, compared to the peak in 1915, Harriette is now used less than 3% as often.
In total, there have been 8,722 births with the name Harriette in the United States since 1880. This represents a small fraction of the overall number of births during this period, suggesting that Harriette has never been one of the most popular names for newborn girls in the U.S.
While it is difficult to determine why Harriette's popularity has declined so significantly over time, it may be due to changing tastes and trends in naming children. It is interesting to note, however, that despite its decline in popularity, there continues to be a small number of parents who choose this name for their daughters each year.
In conclusion, while the name Harriette was once moderately popular in the United States during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, it has since fallen out of favor. Despite this decline, the name continues to be used occasionally, indicating that there may still be some cultural significance or personal preference attached to it.