Harriet

The first name Harriet means 'the mistress' or 'the ruler of the home'. It represents the feminine form of Harry and is the English variant of Henriette.

What does the name Harriet mean?

Harriet means 'the mistress' or 'the ruler of the home'. It traces back to the Old High German first name Heinrich and is composed of the Old High German terms heim for 'home, house' and rihhi for 'powerful, rich, ruler'. In English-speaking regions, the name Harriet has been quite popular since the 18th century. A well-known bearer of this name was the American author Harriet Beecher Stowe (1811-1896), who became famous for her 1852 published anti-slavery novel 'Uncle Tom's Cabin'. In Germany, the actress Harriet Herbig-Matten, particularly known among children and teenagers for her role as 'Tina Martin' in the 'Bibi & Tina' films, is a current bearer of the name.

Where does the name Harriet come from?

The name Harriet has its roots in Old High German and means 'the mistress' or 'the ruler of the home'.

How do you pronounce Harriet?

The pronunciation of Harriet is clearly structured and consists of two syllables. It is often pronounced as 'Ha-ri-et' [ˈhæriət] or in a Germanized form [ˈhaʁi̯ɛt]. The name begins with an open 'Ha', which radiates a strong presence. The middle part with a gentle 'r' adds movement to the sound, while the concluding '-et' is clearly pronounced. Harriet conveys a classic, self-assured, and sensitive impression.

Popularity

In Germany, Harriet is among the popular first names. The name currently ranks 1,740th on the list of the most common female baby names. Its best ranking was achieved in 2019 with 1,059th place. Over the last ten years, the name has been given about 140 times, placing it 2,061st in the ten-year statistics. From 2010 to 2024, the rank number is 2,164.

Nicknames & pet names

Hardy / Harri / Harry / Hattie / Jette

Similar first names

Famous people

• Harriet Anena (writer from Uganda)
• Harriet Angelina Fortescue (writer from England)
• Harriet Ann Jacobs (American writer)
• Harriet Avery (character from 'Grey's Anatomy')
• Harriet Beecher Stowe (writer from the USA)
• Harriet Beecher-Stowe (American writer)
• Harriet Bland (American sprinter)
• Harriet Browne (composer)
• Harriet Buchheit (writer)
• Harriet Claire Heise (journalist & presenter)
• Harriet Cohen (pianist from Great Britain)
• Harriet Elizabeth Abrams (American actress)
• Harriet Fasenfest (writer from the USA)
• Harriet Grote (British writer)
• Harriet Hosmer (artist from the USA)
• Harriet Hunt (English chess player)
• Harriet Lee (English writer)
• Harriet Manamela (South African actress)
• Harriet McDougal (American writer)
• Harriet Melusina Fay Peirce (American writer)