Henri Unisex
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: ahn-REE /ɑ̃ʁi/
Origin: French; Germanic
Meaning: Ruler of the home; estate ruler
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Henri is of French origin, derived from the Old High German name Haimric, which is composed of the elements 'haim,' meaning 'home' or 'house,' and 'ric,' meaning 'ruler' or 'king.' This name evolved through various linguistic stages, transitioning from Haimric to the Old French Henri, which was adopted into English as Henry. The name has been used in various forms across different cultures, including Heinrich in German and Enrico in Italian, showcasing its widespread appeal and adaptability throughout history.
Historically, the name Henri has been borne by numerous significant figures, particularly in French history. One notable example is King Henri IV of France, who reigned from 1589 to 1610 and is remembered for his efforts to unify France and promote religious tolerance.
The name also appears in the context of the French Revolution, with Henri being a common name among the nobility and clergy during that tumultuous period. Additionally, the name has been associated with various saints, including Saint Henri, who was a Holy Roman Emperor in the 11th century and is venerated in both the Catholic and Orthodox traditions.
Culturally, the name Henri has resonated through literature, art, and music, often symbolizing nobility, leadership, and strength. It has been featured in various works, including the plays of Shakespeare, where the English variant Henry appears prominently.
The name's enduring legacy is also reflected in its diminutive form, Henriette, which has been used in various cultural contexts. Overall, the name Henri carries with it a rich historical and cultural significance, representing a lineage of rulers and influential figures throughout the centuries.
Famous people named Henri
In this section, you will find notable people named Henri. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Henri who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Henri who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Henri Matisse is a painter best known for The Dance, Woman with a Hat, and The Snail.
Henri Cartier-Bresson is a photographer best known for The Decisive Moment, Behind the Gare Saint-Lazare, and his work with Magnum Photos.
Henri Poincaré is a mathematician best known for his contributions to topology, celestial mechanics, and the foundations of dynamical systems.
Henri Rousseau is a painter best known for The Dream, The Sleeping Gypsy, and The Fight Between Carnival and Lent.
Henri Alleg is a journalist best known for his book La Question, which exposed torture during the Algerian War.
Henri Verneuil is a film director best known for The Sicilian Clan, The Brain, and The French Connection II.
Henri Lefebvre is a philosopher best known for his works on the critique of everyday life and the production of space.
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec is a painter best known for his posters of the Moulin Rouge, At the Moulin Rouge, and The Dance at the Moulin Rouge.
Henri Nouwen is a theologian and author best known for The Wounded Healer, Life of the Beloved, and The Return of the Prodigal Son.
Fictional characters named Henri
The following list of fictional characters named Henri is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Henri is a fictional character from the novel The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas. He is a loyal servant who plays a significant role in supporting the protagonist, Edmond Dantès, during his quest for revenge.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Henri, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Henri. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Henri was first seen in the United States in 1885.
Henri has ranked as high as #1214 nationally, which occurred in 2021, and has been most popular in California, New York, Massachusetts, Texas, and Florida.
In the past 5 years the name Henri has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Henri is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Henri was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Henri (2024)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| CA | 18 | |
| NY | 10 | |
| FL | 8 | |
| TX | 7 | |
| NC | 5 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Henri.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 108 |
| 2023 | 129 |
| 2022 | 143 |
| 2021 | 149 |
| 2020 | 103 |
| 2019 | 131 |
| 2018 | 118 |
| 2017 | 113 |
| 2016 | 120 |
| 2015 | 104 |
| 2014 | 98 |
| 2013 | 95 |
| 2012 | 91 |
| 2011 | 96 |
| 2010 | 65 |
| 2009 | 91 |
| 2008 | 81 |
| 2007 | 73 |
| 2006 | 75 |
| 2005 | 68 |
| 2004 | 77 |
| 2003 | 66 |
| 2002 | 62 |
| 2001 | 59 |
| 2000 | 49 |
| 1999 | 51 |
| 1998 | 61 |
| 1997 | 61 |
| 1996 | 52 |
| 1995 | 35 |
| 1994 | 39 |
| 1993 | 46 |
| 1992 | 37 |
| 1991 | 35 |
| 1990 | 32 |
| 1989 | 42 |
| 1988 | 31 |
| 1987 | 31 |
| 1986 | 28 |
| 1985 | 34 |
| 1984 | 31 |
| 1983 | 30 |
| 1982 | 28 |
| 1981 | 28 |
| 1980 | 34 |
| 1979 | 35 |
| 1978 | 21 |
| 1977 | 29 |
| 1976 | 20 |
| 1975 | 24 |
| 1974 | 32 |
| 1973 | 32 |
| 1972 | 27 |
| 1971 | 32 |
| 1970 | 37 |
| 1969 | 26 |
| 1968 | 21 |
| 1967 | 39 |
| 1966 | 38 |
| 1965 | 32 |
| 1964 | 30 |
| 1963 | 42 |
| 1962 | 26 |
| 1961 | 39 |
| 1960 | 42 |
| 1959 | 25 |
| 1958 | 34 |
| 1957 | 32 |
| 1956 | 46 |
| 1955 | 33 |
| 1954 | 41 |
| 1953 | 39 |
| 1952 | 31 |
| 1951 | 33 |
| 1950 | 46 |
| 1949 | 23 |
| 1948 | 27 |
| 1947 | 25 |
| 1946 | 32 |
| 1945 | 26 |
| 1944 | 25 |
| 1943 | 32 |
| 1942 | 30 |
| 1941 | 24 |
| 1940 | 25 |
| 1939 | 22 |
| 1938 | 29 |
| 1937 | 20 |
| 1936 | 19 |
| 1935 | 24 |
| 1934 | 35 |
| 1933 | 24 |
| 1932 | 24 |
| 1931 | 33 |
| 1930 | 39 |
| 1929 | 33 |
| 1928 | 36 |
| 1927 | 29 |
| 1926 | 37 |
| 1925 | 29 |
| 1924 | 32 |
| 1923 | 28 |
| 1922 | 23 |
| 1921 | 30 |
| 1920 | 32 |
| 1919 | 28 |
| 1918 | 37 |
| 1917 | 31 |
| 1916 | 31 |
| 1915 | 25 |
| 1914 | 18 |
| 1913 | 17 |
| 1912 | 16 |
| 1911 | 14 |
| 1909 | 6 |
| 1907 | 6 |
| 1906 | 7 |
| 1905 | 5 |
| 1900 | 5 |
| 1896 | 8 |
| 1888 | 8 |
| 1887 | 6 |
| 1885 | 5 |