Harrison
Harrison was the 116th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 3,072 babies. Its best year was 1888, when it ranked 52nd; the most babies were born in 2016 (3,662). Over the last ten years it has moved up 3 places. More babies were named Harrison in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Meaning son of Harry (Henry) · English, Germanic
Say it HAIR-ih-suhn /ˈhɛrɪsən/
- Rank in 2025
- #116 boys, down 2 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 3,072boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 20163,662 babies
- Total since 1880
- 99,462babies recorded
What does the name Harrison mean?
Harrison is a northern English surname meaning 'son of Harry'. Harry was the usual medieval English spoken form of Henry; Wikipedia notes that the surname is recorded from the 14th century. Henry is a Germanic name that DMNES derives from words for 'home' and 'ruler'. Wikipedia adds that Harrison and Harris were sometimes used interchangeably by the same families. As a first name it is a transferred surname, used mainly for boys.
Harry (Middle English, “form of Henry”)-son (Middle English, “son of”)heim (Old High German, “home”)rīhhi (Old High German, “ruler”)
How sure is this? Well established.
Related names: Harris, Harry, Henry, Harrisen.
See also: English names.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Harrison', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
- Wikipedia, 'Harrison (name)', Wikipedia (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, ed. S. L. Uckelman, Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Henry', Durham University / The DMNES Editors
Nicknames for Harrison
The usual nicknames for Harrison are Harry. Some parents skip the long form: for every 100 boys named Harrison in the last five years, 11 were named Harry, against 25 twenty years earlier.
| Nickname | Kind | Rank 2025 | Boys, 5 years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harry · also for Henry, Harold | Modern | #775 | 1,716 |
Nicknames reviewed by our editors; counts are boys given the nickname as their legal first name. Nobody records how many Harrisons go by each one.
Harrison popularity since 1880
A few girls are given the name too: 324 since 1923, 8 in 2025.
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #116 | 3,072 |
| 2020 | #114 | 3,221 |
| 2010 | #233 | 1,491 |
| 2000 | #184 | 1,986 |
| 1990 | #280 | 929 |
| 1980 | #756 | 135 |
| 1970 | #753 | 119 |
| 1960 | #591 | 175 |
| 1950 | #448 | 216 |
| 1940 | #434 | 178 |
| 1930 | #368 | 241 |
| 1920 | #277 | 407 |
| 1910 | #247 | 95 |
| 1900 | #245 | 69 |
| 1890 | #107 | 156 |
| 1880 | #190 | 65 |
How popular is Harrison, counting every spelling?
Harrison is the most common spelling of a name family that ranked #123 for boys in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #116 for Harrison on its own. Together these spellings went to 3,072 boys in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harrison | 3,072 | #116 | 15,176 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Harrison?
3,072 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Harrison (0.85 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Harrison born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 3 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Harrison.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Harrison?
About 85,200 people born in the US named Harrison are alive today, with a median age of 14; half are between 7 and 27. That makes Harrison mostly worn by children and young adults.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Harrison by state
How common Harrison was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Vermont (3.2×), Maine (3.2×), Rhode Island (2.8×), South Dakota (2.4×), Minnesota (2.4×). It is least common, relative to the national rate, in Hawaii, New Mexico, Nevada.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Harrison: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Harrison, they share its era and feel.
Middle names for Harrison · Sibling names for Harrison
Questions about the name Harrison
What does Harrison mean?
Harrison means “son of Harry (Henry)” (English, Germanic origin). Certainty: well established.
How popular is the name Harrison?
Harrison was the 116th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 3,072 babies. Its best year was 1888, when it ranked 52nd; the most babies were born in 2016 (3,662). Over the last ten years it has moved up 3 places. More babies were named Harrison in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Is Harrison a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Harrison in the US.
Where is Harrison most popular?
In 2021–2025, Harrison was most common in Vermont (5.57 per 1,000 boys), followed by Maine and Rhode Island.