Given name & surname
Harris
“son of Harry”·“the son of Harry”
Harris is a variant of Harrison. Interpretations include “son of Harry” and “the son of Harry” (English). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Meaning & origin
What it means
Harris is a variant of Harrison. Interpretations include “son of Harry” and “the son of Harry” (English). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Harris is a variant of Harrison. An origin associated with Harrison is English.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
In English usage, Harris developed from Henri.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1880. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. Harris is a variant of Harrison. The history of Harrison gives this family its wider story. Harrison’s naming history includes the use of a family name as a given name.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Harris through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 16,661
- 16,472 boys · 189 girls
- Most popular year
- 1921
- 245 babies
- 2025
- 156
- #1,300 for boys · #13,816 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −15%
- Easing
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 150 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 1,300 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 15.2% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 245 in 1921. It also appeared in 6 birth records for girls in 2025. In 2025, Texas had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (13). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 10,007 as a first name in 2020; 603,371 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.
Harris’s family of names
In English usage, Harris developed from Henri. In English usage, Harris has a related form in Harry. Harris has a related form in Harrison.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Harris has relatives in 5 languages.
5 related names in 5 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 2
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 2
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 14
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Harris
- DivineAmerican actor, singer and drag queen (1945–1988)
- Harris DickinsonBritish actorborn 1996
- Harris YulinAmerican actor1937–2025
- Harris WoffordAmerican politician (1926-2019)
- Harris JayarajIndian composerborn 1975
- Harris Flanagingovernor of Arkansas from 1862 to 1864, and in exile from 1864 to 1865 (1817–1874)
- Harris J. RyanAmerican engineer (1866–1934)
- Harris M. PlaistedUnion Army general, lawyer, politician (1828-1898)
- Harris MannBritish car designer (1938–2023)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Harris, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Hardy
“one who is bold and courageous”
98% boys · 2% girls
Harmon
“a soldier”
91% boys · 9% girls
Howard
“army guardian” · “the guardian of the home”
>99% boys
Morris
“a dark-skinned man; Moorish”
>99% boys
Herman
“a soldier”
>99% boys
Alvis
“one who is wise”
>99% boys
Horace
“the keeper of time”
>99% boys
Herschel
“resembling a deer”
>99% boys