How Many People Are Named Harold?
Complete statistics for the name Harold: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.
Harold is a classic, old-school name with only 163,847 people alive today, making it 1 in 2,014 Americans. Most Harolds are over 60, with the most births in 1924.
📖 Meaning & Origin
Life path number 4 is traditionally associated with stability, hard work, and building solid foundations. People connected to the number 4 are seen as practical and disciplined, the kind who get things done through persistence rather than luck.
🌍 Worldwide Usage
⚥ Gender Distribution
📊 Births by Age Group
Avg Cohort Age: 89All 553,933 recorded US births for this name, grouped by the age those individuals would be today. Not adjusted for survival, so the number living today is lower (see the living estimate above).
📈 Popularity Over Time
Peak: 1924Annual US births from SSA records · Trend: Slowly declining
🏆 Name Scorecard
Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency
📜 Harold Through the Generations
Harold has been a staple in American naming traditions for nearly half a century, appearing in the top 10 names for 47 years. However, the name's popularity has waned over time, with only 163,847 people alive today compared to a total of 553,933 births throughout history. This means that many Harolds are part of the older generation, with 8,679 under 30 and 43,244 aged 30-60, but a whopping 502,010 over 60. The peak year for Harold was 1924, when 14,230 babies were named Harold, reflecting a time when the name was much more common. Today, the trend is slowly declining, and while the name remains rare, it continues to be associated with a bygone era.
📍 State Distribution (Top 10)
⭐ Famous People Named Harold
Harold is an English personal name. The modern name Harold ultimately derives from the Proto-Germanic *harja-waldaz, meaning 'military-power' or 'army-ruler'. The name entered Modern English via the Old English from Hereweald, which retained the same meaning and was prevalent in Anglo-Saxon England. The name's popularity in Viking Age England would also have been bolstered by the use of the Old Norse form Haraldr among Scandinavian settlers in the Danelaw.…
Full list on Wikipedia →🌿 Related Names by Origin
Other names sharing Harold's Germanic roots
📄 About the Name Harold
How Many People Have the Name Harold?
Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 5,704 people in the United States currently share the name Harold. That works out to roughly 1 in every 58,108 Americans, placing it in the Rare category.
Is Harold a Common or Rare Name?
Harold is classified as Rare. The rarity scale runs from Very Common (shared by millions) through Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Very Rare. Understanding where a name sits helps parents gauge uniqueness, genealogists narrow down records, and individuals settle debates about their own name's distinctiveness.
What Does the Name Harold Mean?
Harold means "army ruler, leader of armies" and comes from Germanic origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 4.
Gender Breakdown
Of all recorded bearers of Harold in SSA data, approximately 99% are male and 1% are female.
When Was Harold Most Popular?
The name Harold reached peak popularity in 1924, with 14,230 babies registered that year. Current trend: Slowly declining.
How Is This Data Calculated?
All figures are statistical estimates, not exact government headcounts. The underlying data comes from the SSA National Baby Names dataset. Full methodology is explained on the methodology page.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How many people are named Harold?
Approximately 5,704 people named Harold live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 5,704. That works out to roughly 1 in 58,108 Americans.
Is Harold a rare name?
Harold is classified as Rare in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 58,108 Americans has this name.
What does the name Harold mean?
Harold means "army ruler, leader of armies" and comes from Germanic origins.
Is Harold more male or female?
Based on SSA records, 99% of people named Harold are male and 1% are female.
When was Harold most popular?
Harold peaked in 1924 with 14,230 births that year. Current trend: Slowly declining.
How accurate are these statistics?
All figures are statistical estimates based on SSA birth records and age-adjusted modeling. See the methodology page for full details.