- Pregnancy
- Baby Names
Learn the meaning and origins of popular baby names that start with "H."
ByHedy Phillips
Updated on August 16, 2023
Fact checked byMarley Hall
For some families, having everyone's name follow a theme is important. Perhaps all your children are named after your favorite fictional characters or your favorite season. Or maybe your family has decided to honor your heritage and give the children names that speak to their history. No matter what you go with, having a theme can make your family feel more united. One idea is to give all your kids names that start with the same letter—perhaps the same as your own. If you're searching for baby names that start with the letter "H," there are some really beautiful options. There are both unique baby names and popular baby names that start with "H," so you can find something no matter what you're looking for.
100 Latin Baby Names and Meanings
Hailey
- Origin:English
- Meaning: From the hay clearing
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Hayley, Haylie, Haley
- Famous Namesakes: Actresses Hayley Atwell and Hayley Mills
- Peak Popularity: Hailey reached its peak on the U.S. popular names list in 2010.
Hakeem
- Origin:Arabic
- Meaning: Wise
- Famous Namesakes: Former NBA star Hakeem Olajuwon
- Peak Popularity: Hakeem saw its biggest year in the U.S. 1989.
Hallie
- Origin:English
- Meaning: Praise the Lord
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Halle
- Famous Namesakes: Actresses Hallie Todd and Hallie Eisenberg
- Peak Popularity: Hallie was popular in the early 1900s but has seen a resurgence in popularity in recent years.
Hannah
- Origin:Hebrew
- Meaning: Grace
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Hanna
- Famous Namesakes: Actresses Hannah Simone and Hannah Taylor-Gordon
- Peak Popularity: Hannah was popular in the 1990s and early 2000s in the U.S.
Hans
- Origin:Scandinavian
- Meaning: God is gracious
- Famous Namesakes: Author Hans Christian Andersen is one of the most well-known people with this name.
- Peak Popularity: Hans peaked in 1967.
Harley
- Origin:English
- Meaning: From the hares' wood
- Famous Namesakes: The musician known as Flume was born Harley Edward Streten.
- Peak Popularity: Harley was at its most popular in 2017.
Harlow
- Origin:English
- Meaning: From the rocky hill
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Harlo
- Famous Namesakes: Harlow is commonly seen as a last name, like with model Winnie Harlow and musician Jack Harlow.
- Peak Popularity: Harlow continues to gain popularity. Its biggest year so far was 2021.
Harmony
- Origin:English
- Meaning: Musical combination of chords
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Harmoni
- Famous Namesakes: Director Harmony Korine is a well-known person with this name.
- Peak Popularity: Harmony is currently a popular name, seeing its biggest growth in the 2010s.
Harper
- Origin:English
- Meaning: Harp player
- Famous Namesakes: Victoria and David Beckham named their youngest daughter Harper Seven Beckham.
- Peak Popularity: Harper has been in the top 10 names for baby girls since 2014.
Harry
- Origin:English
- Meaning: Army ruler
- Famous Namesakes: Famous people named Harry include Prince Harry, singer Harry Styles, and actor Harry Hamlin.
- Peak Popularity: Harry is an old-fashioned name that was popular in the early 1900s.
Hasan
- Origin:Arabic
- Meaning: Handsome
- Famous Namesakes: Comedian Hasan Minhaj is a well-known person with this name.
- Peak Popularity: Hasan has only appeared on the popular names list for one year—in 1978.
Hattie
- Origin:American
- Meaning: Home ruler
- Famous Namesakes: Actress and comedian Hattie McDaniel is one of the most famous people with this name.
- Peak Popularity: Hattie was popular in the early 1900s, though it has seen a burst of popularity in recent years.
Haven
- Origin:English
- Meaning: Safe place
- Peak Popularity: Haven peaked in 2021 in the U.S.
Hayden
- Origin:English
- Meaning: From the hay downs
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Haden
- Famous Namesakes: Actors Hayden Christensen and Thomas Haden Church.
- Peak Popularity: Hayden was a popular name in the early 2000s.
Hayes
- Origin:English
- Meaning: Lives by the forest
- Famous Namesakes: Hayes is commonly a last name, seen on well-known people like former President Rutherford B. Hayes and actor Sean Hayes.
- Peak Popularity: Hayes reached its top spot in 2021.
Hazel
- Origin:English
- Meaning: The hazel tree
- Famous Namesakes: Actresses Hazel Court and Hazel Dean
- Peak Popularity: Hazel was popular in the early 1900s but has become popular again in the 2000s.
Heath
- Origin:English
- Meaning: Land of heather and grass
- Famous Namesakes: Late actor Heath Ledger is one of the most well-known people with this name.
- Peak Popularity: Heath was a popular name in the 1970s.
Heather
- Origin:English
- Meaning: Heather plant
- Famous Namesakes: Heather is a popular name among actresses. It's shared by Heather Locklear, Heather Morris, and Heather Graham.
- Peak Popularity: Heather was most popular in the 1970s and 1980s.
Hector
- Origin:Greek
- Meaning: Anchor
- Famous Namesakes: Composer Hector Berlioz and actor Hector Elizondo
- Peak Popularity: Hector has upheld its popularity over the last century, seeing its peak in 1990.
Heidi
- Origin:German
- Meaning: Of noble kin
- Famous Namesakes: Actress Heidi Gardner and reality star Heidi Montag both share this name.
- Peak Popularity: Heidi was its most popular in the 1970s.
Helen
- Origin:Greek
- Meaning: Light
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Helene, Helena
- Famous Namesakes: Actresses Helen Hunt and Helen McCrory
- Peak Popularity: Helen was a very popular name in the early 1900s in the U.S.
Hendricks
- Origin:English
- Meaning: Family of Hendrick
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Hendrix
- Peak Popularity: Hendricks hasn't yet made the list of popular baby names, but Hendrix has. It peaked in 2021.
Hennessy
- Origin:Irish
- Meaning: One strength
- Famous Namesakes: Cardi B's sister's name is Hennessy Carolina.
- Peak Popularity: Hennessy hasn't yet made the list of popular baby names in the U.S.
Henry
- Origin:German
- Meaning: Ruler of the home
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Henri
- Famous Namesakes: Actors Henry Cavill and Henry Fonda
- Peak Popularity: Henry was a very popular name in the early 1900s and is popular again today.
Hermione
- Origin:Greek
- Meaning: Interpreter
- Famous Namesakes: One of the main characters of the Harry Potter franchise is named Hermione Granger, and she's perhaps the most well-known person with this name.
- Peak Popularity: Hermione hasn't yet made the list of popular baby names.
Hester
- Origin:Greek
- Meaning: Star
- Peak Popularity: Hester was a popular name in the early 1900s, peaking in 1901.
Hideki
- Origin:Japanese
- Meaning: Excellence
- Famous Namesakes: Baseball player Hideki Matsui is one of the more well-known people with this name.
- Peak Popularity: Hideki has not appeared on the list of popular baby names in the U.S.
Hilary
- Origin:Greek
- Meaning: Cheerful
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Hillary, Hilarie
- Famous Namesakes: Actress Hilary Swank and former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton share this name.
- Peak Popularity: Hilary peaked in 1990 in the U.S.
Hogan
- Origin:Irish
- Meaning: Descendant of the young warrior
- Peak Popularity: Hogan does not appear in the list of popular U.S. baby names.
Holden
- Origin:English
- Meaning: From the hollow in the valley
- Peak Popularity: Holden reached its peak popularity in 2018.
Hollis
- Origin:English
- Meaning: Near the holly
- Peak Popularity: Hollis was a popular name in the early 1900s.
Honor
- Origin:English
- Meaning: Dignity
- Famous Namesakes: Actress Jessica Alba named her daughter Honor Marie Warren.
- Peak Popularity: Honor has not yet appeared in the list of popular baby names.
Howard
- Origin:English
- Meaning: Heart brave
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Howie
- Famous Namesakes: Singer Howie Day and radio personality Howard Stern
- Peak Popularity: Howard was a popular name in 1920.
Hoyt
- Origin:English
- Meaning: Stick
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Hoit
- Peak Popularity: Hoyt reached peak popularity in 1909.
Hudson
- Origin:English
- Meaning: Son of Hudd
- Famous Namesakes: Hudson is commonly a last name, seen on celebrities like Kate Hudson and Jennifer Hudson.
- Peak Popularity: Hudson has seen a boom of popularity in recent years, peaking in 2021.
Hyacinth
- Origin:Greek
- Meaning: The flower
- Peak Popularity: Hyacinth has not appeared on the list of popular baby names.
How to Choose a Name for Your Baby
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Tell us why!
Sources
Parents uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Social security administration.Popularity of name.