Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Henrietta
GirlEnglish, Germanic· “feminine of Henry, home ruler”
- Meaning
- feminine of Henry, home ruler
- Origin
- English, Germanic
- Pronunciation
- hen-ree-ET-uh
- Syllables
- 4
- US rank 2025
- #2,666
- US babies 2025
- 65
- Best rank
- #105 (1892)
- Peak year
- 1918
Meaning and origin of Henrietta
Henrietta is an English and Germanic name that means “feminine of Henry, home ruler”.
Henrietta is the feminine form of Henry, from Germanic Heimirich, "home ruler." It entered English from French Henriette through Henrietta Maria, the French princess who married King Charles I of England and gave her name to the colony of Maryland. The name was popular in the nineteenth century and has a vintage charm today. It is said hen-ree-ET-uh. Hattie, Etta, Hettie and Henny are traditional nicknames, giving parents plenty of choice. It sits alongside other long vintage names such as Josephine and Genevieve.
Popularity over time
Henrietta has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 89 different years. Its best national rank was #105 in 1892, and the most babies received it in 1918, when 1,411 were named Henrietta. In 2025, 65 babies were named Henrietta, and it ranked #2,666 nationally. Its use has been fairly steady over the past decade.
Its national rank moved from #171 in 1920, #375 in 1950, #2,618 in 1980, #7,306 in 2000, #5,309 in 2010, and #2,666 in 2025. Of the 51,330 US girls named Henrietta since records began, 20% were born in the 1920s, its biggest decade. The 1910s come next, with 10,400 babies. Since 2010, 1,030 more have been named Henrietta.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Eula, Susie, Fern, Lucile, and Winifred.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Henrietta ranked highest in Minnesota, Michigan, and New York.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | #899 | 5 |
| Michigan | #1290 | 5 |
| New York | #1718 | 7 |
| California | #2903 | 6 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Henrietta is usually pronounced hen-ree-ET-uh, with four syllables. It has nine letters, starts with H and ends in “-ta”.
Middle names for Henrietta
A few middle names that flow with Henrietta: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Henrietta
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Lists that include Henrietta
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Henrietta mean?
Henrietta is an English and Germanic name that means “feminine of Henry, home ruler”.
What is the origin of the name Henrietta?
Henrietta has English and Germanic roots. Henrietta is the feminine form of Henry, from Germanic Heimirich, "home ruler." It entered English from French Henriette through Henrietta Maria, the French princess who married King Charles I of England and gave her name to the colony of Maryland.
Is Henrietta a popular name?
Not especially. Henrietta ranked #2,666 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Henrietta a boy or girl name?
Henrietta is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Henrietta?
Henrietta is usually pronounced hen-ree-ET-uh. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings