Hal
Meaning
diminutive of Harold or Henry
The formal names behind Hal
Hal is an established short form of each of these names.
Henry · Germanic origin · "home ruler," from heim and rik, smoothed through French Henri into English; eight kings of England carried it, and after a mid-century nap it returned to the modern top tier. A century of Hanks, Hals, and Harrys ride along
Harold · Germanic origin · army ruler
Popularity, 1890–2024
Shape drawn from US Social Security baby-name records. Hal peaked in the 1910s and the 1960s in nearly equal measure.
When you meet Hal
People given the name Hal in the United States span the generations: the middle half were born anywhere from 1950 to 1979. Age is the one thing the name won't tell you.
Estimated from US Social Security birth registrations and typical lifespans; a rough guide, not a rule.
The Hal deep dive
Whether you’re naming a baby or exploring your own name’s history, this is a personal letter, not a list: where Hal truly comes from, how it traveled, and what a century of records reveals. If you have grown a tree on nametree, it also considers how Hal fits with your family’s names and surname.
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