Boy Name · Old English Origin
Harold
Harold is a boy's name whose meaning is not firmly attested in the historical record. It is a boy's name of Old English origin, and in 2026 it sits in the Top 100 of US baby names.
Origin and meaning: English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0). Popularity: US Social Security Administration.
Considering Harold? It is a boy name, rooted in Old English naming tradition, and ranks in our Top 100 popularity tier. Phonetically it shares territory with Harald.
Harold meaning, origin, and usage
Meaning: Harold has a distinctive sound and evolving modern usage.
Origin: Old English naming roots help connect Harold to related Old English baby names.
Pronunciation: Baby Name Studio pronounces Harold as H·A·R·O·L·D, with 6 letters and a boy usage profile.
Popularity: According to Baby Name Studio's 2026 tracker, Harold is a widely-loved, instantly-recognizable pick in the Top 100 tier.
Harold variants, nicknames, middle names, and sibling names
- Variants and spelling ideas: Harolda, Harolde, Haroldy, Harol.
- Nicknames: Har and H.
- Middle names: Pair Harold with a middle name that balances its substantial sound; start with the Harold middle name generator.
- Sibling names: Harald, Harrold, Herald, Herold, Harlin — full picks on the sibling names for Harold guide for a cohesive sibset.
- Similar names: Looking for names that sound like Harold? Browse our names like Harold guide for phonetic-neighbor picks.
- Explore more: use the Baby Name Explorer, name search, AI name generator, and Baby Name Studio homepage.
Compare Harold side by side
Head-to-head breakdowns of meaning, popularity, pronunciation, and sibling fit.
Frequently asked about Harold
What does the name Harold mean?
Harold has no single meaning that is firmly attested in the historical record. It is used as a boy name in US birth records, and parents usually choose it for its sound rather than a documented meaning.
What is the origin of Harold?
Harold originates in Old English naming tradition.
How do you pronounce Harold?
Harold has 6 letters and is most commonly stressed on the first syllable.
Is Harold a boy's or girl's name?
Harold is primarily used as a boy's name in US records.
How popular is Harold in 2026?
In our 2026 popularity tracker, Harold sits in the Top 100 tier — a widely-loved, instantly-recognizable pick.
What names are similar to Harold?
Names that share Harold's sound and style include Harald, Harrold, Herald, Herold, Harlin.
What middle names pair well with Harold?
Good middle-name fits for Harold pair an opposite syllable rhythm: if Harold is short, lean longer (e.g. classical or three-syllable middles); if Harold is longer, a one-syllable middle keeps the full name from feeling heavy.
What are good sibling names for Harold?
Sibling names that pair naturally with Harold share its rhythm without rhyming — Harald, Harrold, Herald all sit comfortably alongside it on a shortlist.