Given name & surname
Hal
“the ruler of the house”·“home”·“power”
Hal is a medieval familiar form of Harry, with a memorable Shakespearean association.
Meaning & origin
What it means
In English use, Hal carries the interpretation “the ruler of the house.” In English use, Hal is an affectionate form of Henry. Henry combines “home” with “power” or “ruler,” giving the sense “ruler of the home.” In English use, Hal is a diminutive of Harold. One Scandinavian interpretation is “the ruler of an army.”
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is English.
How it developed
In English use, Hal is used as a shortened form of Harry. Hal is used as a form of Henry. In English use, Hal is an affectionate form of Henry. The shared background comes through Henry: Henry’s Germanic elements are haim and ric. In England, Henry became the standard everyday form over Harry in the seventeenth century, influenced by Latin Henricus and French Henri.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
The story
Shakespeare uses Hal for the young prince who will become Henry V. The shift from r to l in Harry → Hal is part of a broader nickname pattern also found in Sarah → Sally.
Hal through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 16,796
- 16,784 boys · 12 girls
- Most popular year
- 1956
- 598 babies
- 2025
- 38
- #3,151 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +37%
- Rising
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 38 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 3,151 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 36.5% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 598 in 1956. In 2025, Utah had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (6). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 9,875 as a first name in 2020; 550 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Hal’s family of names
In English usage, Hal is a diminutive of Henry. Hal has a surname derivative in HASSON. In English usage, Hal has a conventional equivalent in the French form Henri.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 5
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Across languages 4
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
See also 1
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Hal
- Hal HolbrookAmerican actor (1925–2021)
- Hal Robson-KanuWelsh association football player (born 1989)
- Hal B. WallisAmerican film producer and art collector (1898–1986)1899–1986
- Hal AshbyAmerican film director and film editor (1929-1988)
- Hal ClementAmerican author (1922–2003)
- Hal RoachAmerican filmmaker (1892–1992)
- Hal Abelsoncomputer scientistborn 1947
- Hal MooreUnited States Army lieutenant general (1922–2017)
- Hal DavidAmerican poet and lyricist (1921–2012)
Characters named Hal: Hal Jordan (fictional superhero published by DC Comics), Otacon (the Metal Gear series).
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Hal, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Hrothgar
“a king”
>99% boys
Ted
“a gift from God” · “having heart”
>99% boys
Purcell
Purcell is a variant of Percival. One French interpretation is “one who can pierce the vale; in Arthurian legend, the only one who could retrieve the Holy Grail.”
>99% boys
Randy
“lustful”
99% boys · 1% girls
Bill
“the determined protector” · “will”
>99% boys
Richard
“a powerful ruler”
>99% boys
Parsifal
Parsifal is a variant of Percival. One French interpretation is “one who can pierce the vale; in Arthurian legend, the only one who could retrieve the Holy Grail.”
>99% boys
Percivall
Percivall is a variant of Percival. One French interpretation is “one who can pierce the vale; in Arthurian legend, the only one who could retrieve the Holy Grail.”
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