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© 2026 Namesake · namesake.baby

Data: Social Security Administration, US births 1880–2024

Harold — Meaning, Origin & Popularity | Namesake
All names
Haro|Haron
NorseBoy↓ Declining

Harold

HAR-əld · 2 syllables

Share Harold:
Compare with another name
Boy
#988
↓ Declining
#988
in the US · 2024
Popularity score: 30
Peak rank
#921 in 2023
5yr change
-67 ranks
Birth frequency
6.3 per 100,000 births
Sex split
100% boy · 0% girl

Popularity Over Time

↑ Higher on this chart = more popular · ↓ Lower = less popular

Average0255075100Popularity score (0–100)20202024

Rank #988 · Falling since 2020

How Popular Is This Name?

Bars show the range of popularity for each group. The dot shows where this name sits. Further right = more popular.

All US boy names
Top 200 boy names
Norse boy names
Harold

Popularity score: 30  ·  SSA Rank: #988

Rare  ·  Distinctive  ·  Familiar  ·  Common  ·  Very Common

Popularity score: 0 = least popular, 100 = most popular. Based on SSA rank.

Namesake Score
7
Higher than 7% of names
Combines uniqueness, trend, meaning, feasibility, and search interest.
Trend
↓ Declining
-67 ranks
Based on SSA rank velocity
Feasibility
Limited
.com taken · — · clear
Low friction, available
Uniqueness
80
2 per 10,000 births
Won't be common in class

Harold scores lower overall — the popularity trend is fading.

Meaning Depth37% of score
40
Name Trend28% of score
18
Uniqueness20% of score
80
Feasibility15% of score
50

Scores are percentile-ranked across 43,000+ names.

Name DNA
ClassicStrongMasculine2-syllableNorse RootOld EnglishMid-centuryVintageDeclining
Character
army rulercommanding presence
People with this name

Qualities shared by notable Harolds

diplomaticintellectualpragmaticcomposedshrewd
STRONG
High confidence

Harold is a Norse boy name with cooling SSA momentum. It ranked #988 in the US in 2024.

Trend:↓ Declining · -67 ranks
Feasibility:.com taken · — · clear
Popularity:#988 · rare
Harold at a Glance
Meaning:From Old Norse 'herr' (army) and 'wald' (ruler), meaning 'army ruler' or 'powerful warrior'.
Language root:Old Norse · Old English
Peak rank:#921 in 2023
5yr change:-67 ranks
Sex usage:100% boy · 0% girl
Notable bearers
Harold Macmillan
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
Harold Lloyd
Silent film comedian
Similar Sound
Harris◈HarrisonHarvey◈Harlan◈Hadrian
Similar Style
EdmundFrederickMalcolmEverett◈Walter
Works well with
EleanorMargaretDorothyGeorgeRichardWilliam
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→ Stable
Walter
Germanic · #271
→ Stable
Axel
Norse · #78
→ Stable
Source: Social Security Administration baby names data. Popularity data reflects US births. Feasibility data updated monthly.
Harold illustration
Name Intelligence
Harold · Overview
Summary

Harold is a Norse boy name with cooling SSA momentum. It ranked #988 in the US in 2024.

Search interest: 13/100 → Stable

Strengths
Classic · Strong character
Harold carries a bold, serious quality that makes it distinctive without being invented.
Considerations
Popularity declining
Rank has dropped 67 positions in the last year. Consider whether this trajectory matters for your decision.
Domain taken
harold.com is not available. Alternative TLDs may work.
Explore

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Data source:Social Security Administration
Coverage:US births 1879–2024
Updated:January 2025
ISR:Refreshes monthly
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