Harriet

English variation of French Henriette

"estate ruler"

Harriet Origin and Meaning

The name Harriet is a girl's name of French, English origin meaning "estate ruler".

Harriet has long been considered a stylish, upscale name in England, but it's still waiting to be revived in the US—though some parents seeking a solid, serious semi-classic are beginning to consider it.

Distinguished namesakes include Harriet Beecher Stowe, author of the influential Uncle Tom's Cabin; Harriet Tubman (born Araminta), the famed abolitionist; and in pop culture, Harriet Hilliard Nelson, of Ozzie & Harriet TV fame. Many will associate it with the protagonist of the childhood classic Harriet the Spy. Harriet has appeared in other books ranging from Jane Austen's Emma to Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.

Harriet, a Top 100 name at the turn of the last century, hasn't appeared on the list since 1970. On the other hand, it is currently Number 61 in England and Wales.

Cutesy nicknames for Harriet include Hattie, Hetty, and Hatsy. A related idea: Henrietta.

Harriet Rank in US Top 1000

# 983 in the US

Harriet Rank in Nameberry Top 1000

# 80 on Nameberry

Popularity of the name Harriet

• 983 US 2019
• 80 Nameberry 2025
• 157 Unique 2024
• 648 Future 2028
• 62 England 2023
• 155 Scotland 2024
• 63 Australia 2024
• 53 New Zealand 2024

20 Names Similar to Harriet

These 20 names were selected by our users that were looking for other names like Harriet.

• Frances
• Ruth
• Edith
• Dorothy
• Louise
• Winifred
• Greta
• Beatrice
• Agnes
• Louisa
• Matilda
• Maude
• Philippa
• Ida
• Mabel
• Henrietta
• Betty
• Florence
• Martha
• Dorothea

Famous People Named Harriet

• Harriet Beecher Stowe American novelist
• Harriet Nelson (born Peggy Louise Snyder) American singer and actress, wife of Ozzie Nelson
• Harriet Tubman (born Araminta Ross) American abolitionist
• Harriet Mary Walter English actress
• Harriet Ruth Harman British Shadow Deputy Prime Minister
• Harriet Martineau English social theorist
• Harriet Ellan Miers 31st U.S. White House Counsel
• Harriet Ann Jacobs American slave narrative author
• Harriet Sansom Harris American actress
• Harriet Andersson Swedish actress
• Harriet Roberts English dance pop singer
• Harriet Elizabeth Georgiana (Howard) Sutherland Leveson,Gower, Duchess of Sutherland, British Mistress of the Robes
• Harriet Sarah Lady Mordaunt, Scottish divorcee of MP Charles Mordaunt and friend of King Edward VII
• Harriet Arbuthnot English diarist and friend of the Duke of Wellington
• Harriet Hemings daughter of U.S. President Thomas Jefferson

The name Harriet in Pop Culture

• Harriet Chetwode Talbot, main character in film "Salmon Fishing in the Yemen"
• Harriet Welsch main character in Louise Fitzhugh's "Harriet the Spy"
• Harriet Jones character on TV's "Doctor Who" and "Torchwood"
• Harriet Vanger character in "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo"
• Harriet Smith character in Jane Austen's "Emma"
• Harriet Vane character in Dorothy L. Sayers' "Gaudy Night"
• Harriet Oleson character on TV's "Little House on the Prairie"
• Harriet Goodcharm character on TV's "The Worst Witch"
• Harriet "Harry" Watson sister of Dr. John Watson on TV's "Sherlock"
• Harriet Beadle "Tattycoram " character in Charles Dickens' "Little Dorrit"
• Harriet Townsend character in "Yesterday's Child" by Barbara Woo
• Harriet Bentley character in film "Wild Child"
• Harriet Schulenburg character on British TV's Green Wing"
• Harriet Hayward character on TV's "Twin Peaks"
• Harriet dog character in children's books by Nancy Carlson
• Harriet character in "The Maze Runner" series
• Harriet Kepner Avery, daughter of Dr. Jackson Avery and Dr. April Kepner on "Grey's Anatomy"
• Mad Harriet villain in DC Comics
• Harriet Arkham character in Batman comics
• Harriet Hyde alter,ego in British TV series "Julia Jekyll and Harriet Hyde"
• Harriet Morton character in Eva Ibbotson's novel "A Company of Swans"
• Harriet Sims U.S. Navy officer in the TV show JAG
• Harriet character in the videogame “Super Mario Odyssey”
• Harriet Brindle character on “Small Wonder”