Many still wonder what kind of name is Henry. Henry is a traditional English name, derived from the French name Henri, which in turn is formed from the French name Heymerik / Ermirik, derived from the German general Heinarik rulers (from the word "haima" - "home" and "ruler"). This word reflects the origin and interpretation of the name Henry.
In the Old German language, the name was combined with the name Haginrich (from the word "hagin" - "fence"), forming the name "Henry". Therefore, its roots should be sought precisely in the Germanic languages, because it is they who keep in themselves the meaning and secret of the name Henry. They contain a key that will help us understand the reason for its popularity and "elitism" at certain times.
The meaning of the name Henry
For Germans, British and Irish, this name translates as “Hero” or “Ruler of the house”. This is an ideal name for a ruler, leader, business executive, manager and patriarch. But the mystery of the name of Henry, what it means is the questions that people asked in ancient times, when significance and meaning were given a huge role. Then parents could think for a long time about how to name their child, choosing a name according to the set of qualities that were associated with it.
The happy parents who chose this name for their son received real examples of what the name Henry was in the form of its real carriers, who often were princes, kings, great warriors, and even emperors.
But time leaves its indelible imprint on any phenomenon. For example, in modern America, it is believed that the main meaning of the name Henry is kind and gentle, and that the carriers of this name are one of the cutest people in the world. They are also considered great friends because they confront those who are at war with others and will gladly sacrifice everything for someone they truly love. Modern Americans also believe that a typical carrier named Henry loves to patronize other people, touching to take care of them, messing with children. For Americans, it is not too important what “Henry” means - the origin of this word and the name formed from it is covered in darkness for them, as for most people. Meanwhile, the history of the "mutation" of the name in different cultural conditions is very interesting, so let's see how the name Henry sounds in different nations.
The Germans
The Old High German version of the name is found from the 8th century, in the variants of Khaimirich, Khaimerih and Khemirich. Few people today, however, decide to call their sons in such a tricky way, even in Germany. Everyone has long been satisfied with the uniform and traditional for all Germans version of this name - Henry. It was worn by many emperors of the Holy Roman Empire, who belonged to German aristocratic families.
The British
Harry is initially only an English short form named Henry, which appeared in medieval England. Most English kings named Henry (or Henry) were often called Harry. This version of the name became so popular in England that the phrase "Tom, Dick and Harry" began to be used to refer to the people as a whole. Common English female forms of the name are Harriet and Henrietta. Now Harry and Henry are separate names that are simply impossible to confuse. Few people realize that they come from the name of Henry, and were once considered only its abbreviated form.
In other English speaking countries
The majestic significance of the name Henry became a catalyst for its popularity, primarily in English-speaking countries. It was one of the 100 most popular names chosen for boys born in the United States, England and Wales, as well as in Australia in 2007. It was 46th most prevalent among boys and men in the United States in the 1990 census. Harry - his short form, which became a separate name - was the fifth most popular male name in England and Wales in 2007, making it to the list of 50 most common names in Ireland, Scotland and Northern Ireland in recent decades. In 2007, the name Harry took, however, only 578th place in popularity in the United States, significantly losing the name Henry.
The French
The popular French name Henry is also a form of the name Henry, and it was from France that name passed to England. The bearers of the Old Germanic name were the Normans who had conquered England - the warlike descendants of the Vikings, who switched to Old French and adopted French culture. Now the name Henri is one of the most popular names in France, Belgium and Quebec. There are a lot of famous carriers of this name, but few have thought that it is only a slightly modified version of the name to which this article is devoted. Those who still do not quite understand what the name Henry means - his secret, like the secret of any name in general, often lies in its famous carriers. One has only to look at the famous actors, politicians and kings named after this name, and all questions disappear themselves.
The Dutch and Scandinavians
In the Middle Ages, this name was Latinized as Henricus. It was considered noble and "royal" in Germany, France and England during the entire period called the High Middle Ages in history (Henry I of Germany, Henry I of England, Henry I of France - great kings and emperors) and was often chosen precisely for future rulers. Due to the prestigious status of the name, many of its variants appeared in Western and Central Europe.
Within the distribution of German, Frisian and Dutch, numerous diminutive and abbreviated forms of the name of Henry arose, including the Lower German, Dutch and Frisian versions of Heike or Heiko, Dutch Hein and Heintier, German Heiner and Heinz. The original diphton was lost in the most popular Dutch version - Hendrick, as well as the Scandinavian version of Henrik (or Henning).
In Eastern Europe
East European languages, under the influence of German and Latin, were enriched by their own variants of the name Henry for boys. The most common options, however, sound quite familiar and, as a rule, are not too convoluted: Henryk among the Poles, Jindrich and Heineck among the Czechs, Henrik among the Hungarians, Slovaks and Croats, Henrikki or Heikki among the Finns, Henrikas among the Latvians and Herkus among the Lithuanians. In Russia, Belarus and Ukraine, the Anglo-American version of this name, Henry, remains well-known and relatively popular. Often associated with him is the name Gennady and the abbreviation Gene formed from him, but this is not entirely true - despite the common root and similarity of sound, these names have completely different origins. However, the fate of all Henry carriers in Russia is the same: it seems that they will be called Genes throughout their lives.
The romance peoples
In southern Europe, numerous variants appeared without the initial sound “x” in the name, but the meaning of the name Henry did not change from this. These options include Arrigo, Enzo and Enrico among Italians, Enric among Catalans and Enrique among Spaniards and Portuguese. According to the popular version of the origin of the name of the American continent, it was named after the Spanish navigator Amerigo Vespucci, whose name is also a peculiar variant of the name Henry. Thus, the meaning of the name Henry, unexpectedly, was transferred to the whole continent, which, you see, is very symbolic.
Female versions of the name
If you were sure that you would have a boy whom you name Henry, but at the same time you had a girl, it does not matter, because the female versions of this name have been known since the Middle Ages, and were often given to princesses and duchesses.
Several variants of this gave rise to derivative female names, which now exist in great abundance, for every taste and color. The Low German variant Henrik (Hendrik) gave birth to the female names Henrique, Hendrik and Hendrin, as well as Heiko and Heike. The Italian version of the name (Enrico) gave birth to the beautiful female name Enrica, and the Spanish (Enrique) - gave the female names Enriquette and Enriquette. The French version of Henri gave rise to such famous names as Henrietta and Henrietta, from which the English-language form of Enriett was later formed.
From Harry - one of the English variants of the name - came the female names Harriett and Harriet, as well as the hickorisms (diminutive versions) of Hattie, Hetty, Ett, Etti. Various other hypocorisms include the names of Hen, Heny, Hen, Henny, Annie, Henka. In Holland, the names Jet, Jetta and Ina are popular, also originating on behalf of Henry.
Polish names can boast of such options as Henrika, Henya, Henuzya, Henka, Henrika, Henrika, Henricia, Risia, as well as hypocorism Rick, Raik, etc.
But the most famous female name, formed on behalf of Henry, is still the classic name Henrietta.