boy's name
Henri
ahn-REE
- Origin French
- Gender Boy
- Syllables 2
- Letters 5
- Popularity Uncommon
- Births on record 419,444
Canada
#106
2024 births
Henri is a boy's name of Germanic origin meaning "home ruler," borne by four kings of France and by the one who converted to end a religious war. It ranks 151st in France and is reviving.
- Henri is a name of French origin.
- Peaked in France in 1920, when 11,255 babies were given the name.
- After peaking in the 1920s it fell out of use, and is now climbing again — a classic revival in France.
- Today about 1 in 1,512 babies in France is given this name.
- First appears in birth records in 1900.
- 2 syllables, with the stress on syllable 1.
Henri over time
Births per decade in France, 1900s to 2020s. The striped bar is the 2020s, still in progress — it covers 2020 to 2025, not a full ten years.
Show the numbers
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1900s | 82,975 |
| 1910s | 75,635 |
| 1920s | 92,955 |
| 1930s | 63,410 |
| 1940s | 41,260 |
| 1950s | 24,965 |
| 1960s | 11,265 |
| 1970s | 3,445 |
| 1980s | 2,545 |
| 1990s | 2,430 |
| 2000s | 2,050 |
| 2010s | 2,475 |
| 2020s (to 2025) | 2,085 |
What Henri means
Henri means home ruler, or ruler of the household. The Germanic compound joins heim, a home or estate, with ric, power or rule — so the authority described is over a domain rather than over people in the abstract.
Where Henri comes from
Henri is the French form of the Germanic Heimirich, from heim, home or estate, and ric, ruler. It was among the most-used royal names in Europe: four kings of France, eight of England and seven Holy Roman Emperors. The one who matters in France is Henri IV, the Protestant Bourbon who inherited the throne in 1589 amid the Wars of Religion, converted to Catholicism to take Paris — Paris vaut bien une messe, Paris is well worth a mass, is attributed to him and probably invented — and issued the Edict of Nantes in 1598 granting Protestants legal toleration. He was assassinated in 1610. The English Harry was the ordinary spoken form of Henry for centuries, which is why Harris and Harrison exist as surnames.
Henri in use
Henri ranks 151st in France with about 390 births in 2025 and our records mark it reviving from a peak in 1920 — a vintage royal name returning rather than a new one. Our records carry it from 1900. It holds 974th in England and Wales and 1,725th in the United States, where Henry itself has been rising sharply and takes most of the demand.
How popular is Henri?
In 2025, Henri was given to 390 babies in France, ranking #151 that year. It is used consistently but remains uncommon.
Where Henri is used
French counts are rounded to the nearest five and nothing below five is published, so these figures show the shape of the name's use rather than an exact tally. Data & sources.
Names that peaked alongside Henri
These names rose and fell in the same era, which is why they tend to sound like they belong together.
Parents who like Henri also like
Names whose popularity has risen and fallen in step with Henri over the last century — the same taste, a different name.
Henri in other languages
The same name as it is spelled elsewhere — not shortenings, and not different names that merely sound alike. Each one has its own record here.
Sibling names for Henri
Names from the same era that won't rhyme or share an initial with Henri — the two things that make a sibling set grate.
Common questions about Henri
What does the name Henri mean?
Henri means "home ruler," from the Germanic heim, home, and ric, ruler.
How do you pronounce Henri?
ahn-REE — the H is silent and the final i carries the stress.
Who was Henri IV?
The Protestant king who converted to Catholicism to take Paris and issued the Edict of Nantes in 1598.
Is Harry related to Henri?
Yes. Harry was the ordinary spoken form of Henry in English for centuries.
How popular is the name Henri?
In 2025, Henri was given to 390 babies in France, ranking #151 that year. It is used consistently but remains uncommon.
Is Henri a girl's or a boy's name?
Henri is given almost entirely to boys in birth records.
How many syllables are in Henri?
Henri has 2 syllables.
When was Henri most popular?
Henri peaked in 1920, when 11,255 babies were given the name. After peaking in the 1920s it fell out of use, and is now climbing again — a classic revival.
Is Henri a good name?
That is not something records can settle, but they can tell you what you would be choosing. Henri currently ranks #106 in France. After peaking in the 1920s it fell out of use, and is now climbing again — a classic revival. Everything else — how it sounds with your surname, who it reminds you of — is yours.