Harrison: Name Meaning, Origin, Popularity, & Inspiration

Boy name origins & meanings

The name Harrison is a boy's name with origins in both Old English and German.

The German origin of the name Harrison means "Ruler of the house."

In England, the name originated as a surname meaning "Son of Harry." Today, the name Harrison (and its nickname, Harry) is particularly popular across the United Kingdom and Ireland. However, it has been growing in popularity amongst Americans too.

Syllables: 3

Boy name variations

Family name origins & meanings

Northern English : patronymic from the medieval personal name Harry.

Famous people with this first name

Harrison Ford

Famous people with this last name

George Harrison

How popular is the name Harrison?

According to Social Security Administration data, Harrison has been all over the charts, starting out low before seeing a quick uptick only to drop again. At its peak, Harrison ranked #107 in 2016 for boy names.

Harrison is currently the 127th most popular baby boy name in the United States. However, it ranks #11 on FamilyEducation.com.

As a family name, Harrison is extremely common in northern England. One important and influential American family of bearers is descended from Benjamin Harrison, who emigrated from England to VA in 1633 or 1634. Descendants include another Benjamin Harrison (?1726–91), who was an activist in the American Revolution and a signer of the Declaration of Independence. His son William Henry Harrison (1773–1841) and great-grandson Benjamin Harrison (1833–1901) both became presidents of the U.S.