Girl Names Starting with H: Harper, Helen, Heraclea

Girl names starting with H range from literary surname Harper to rarities like Haidee and Heraclea.

It doesn’t seem like there should be such diversity from a single letter, but it’s true. In fact, girl names starting with H rank eleventh out of the 26 letters of the alphabet.

H also offers a surprising number of surname names for girls. Blame it on celebrity baby name Harlow, maybe, or semi-historical figure Hadley Hemingway. But it’s a letter that gives us lots of last names eager to leap into the first spot.

In some ways, girl names starting with H stay under-the-radar. They don’t seem like they ought to be sensations, not the way that vowel-forward names like Emma, Isabella, and Olivia are. Then again, nearly every generation has a runaway hit of a H name for girls. The early twentieth century gave us Helen; fifty years later, Heather dominated. Hannah followed, and then Harper.

What’s next? That’s hard to say, but maybe it’s on this list!

H NAMES FOR GIRLS RANKED IN THE US TOP 1000

HARPER (#11)

Born Nelle Harper Lee, and named after grandmother Ellen, Harper was only her pen name. But Harper Lee penned one of the most influential American novels of the twentieth century, To Kill a Mockingbird. And, as the twentieth century slipped into the twenty-first, it also became one of the hottest baby naming influences, with Harper, Atticus, and Scout all on the rise.

HAZEL (#27)

When Julia Roberts named her daughter Hazel in 2004 – twin sister to Phinneaus – many dismissed it as too old-fashioned. But Roberts was right. Hazel quickly became one of the fastest rising ecovintage picks of our moment.

HANNAH (#47)

Homespun and wholesome, Hannah is the Old Testament version of Anna, closer to the original Hebrew. It spiked in popularity earlier in the century, and remains slightly more popular than Anna today.

HAILEY (#80)

First came the comet. Then came child star Hayley Mills. Somewhere along the way, parents settled on the spelling Hailey, and made this one of the hottest names of recent decades, entering the US Top 100 in 1996, and peaking just inside the Top 20 in 2010.

HADLEY (#111)

She’s known to history as Ernest Hemingway’s first wife, Hadley Hemingway. (Like Nelle Harper Lee, she was born Elizabeth Hadley Richardson.) When bestseller The Paris Wife imagined their relationship, the work of historical fiction pushed Hadley up the name popularity lists, too. It’s tailored, and the literary connection lends it an appealing backstory, too.

HARMONY (#215)

A musical word name that implies peace and understanding, Harmony is more popular today than ever before.

HALLIE (#227)

Halle Berry boosted her given name, but she also lifted Hallie. The actor’s name comes from a department store in her Cleveland, Ohio hometown. Hallie started out as a Harriet nickname, the feminine equivalent of Hal for Henry and Harry. It might also be considered a feminine form of Harold, since Hal is the go-to nickname. Little Mermaid star Halle Bailey might be helping boost the name – both this spelling and the -lle version.

HOPE (#260)

A classic virtue name, Hope boasts centuries of use. Plus, it’s never ranked in the US Top 100, making it feel more timeless than trendy – though it fits nicely with so many meaningful word names parents love today.

HARLOW (#261)

Made famous by trendsetting namer Nicole Richie, the name nods to Hollywood screen legend Jean Harlow. Harlow Winter Kate was born in 2008, and the name has continued to climb in use.

HAVEN (#285)

Another word name with rich meaning, Haven caught our eye for two reasons. First, Jessica Alba gave the name to her second child in 2011. Plus, Haven boasts that great middle ‘v’ we love in Ava, Olivia, Evelyn, and Everly.

HARLEY (#331)

A surname name, Harley evokes two things. First and foremost, there’s the iconic motorcycle company, and all the ideas about adventure and the open road that the brand conveys. More recently we’re adding Harley Quinn, the DC Comics supervillain brought to life by Margot Robbie. The original meaning is more gentle. It comes from Old English words meaning “hare land” – as in rabbits – and meadow.

HAYDEN (#343)

A surname name that rose with all of the other Aidens, Hayden was boosted for the girls by Hayden Panettiere, most recently of Nashville fame.

HEIDI (#370)

A Top 100 favorite from the 1960s to the 80s, Heidi remains in the US Top 100. It’s a form of Adelaide, but that’s not what comes to mind where we hear it. For most of us, Heidi is forever Johanna Spyri’s child from the Swiss Alps. Or, with a very different image, supermodel turned television host, Heidi Klum.

HATTIE (#411)

A sparky nickname name, Hattie followed Sadie and Millie into wider use.

HELEN (#421)

As classic as Eleanor or Katherine, as nickname-resistant as Alice or Claire, it’s easy to imagine parents embracing this short, strong name.

HOLLY (#459)

This name would be huge today – except that Holly ranked in the US Top 100 from 1969 straight through the 80s. That said, it’s an approachable nature name that’s still perfect for a winter-born daughter.

HAISLEY (#471)

Paisley meets Hailey, with a dash of Halsey thrown in, too.

HELENA (#473)

Long and lovely, Helena ought to rank with popular girl names like Isabella. Instead, a raft of possible pronunciations tends to distract parents. Instead, it’s Elena that makes the current US Top 100. But with generations of use, vintage Helena could wear beautifully.

HEAVEN (#496)

A spiritual name, but a pop culture one, too. The name surged in the 1990s following the publication of VC Andrews’ Heaven, the first book in a series about a girl named – obviously – Heaven Casteel.

HANNA (#543)

Hannah, hold the final H! Action movie turned Amazon Prime series Hanna, about a teenage assassin, boosted this spelling in the last few years.

HOLLAND (#590)

A place name with long history as a given name, Holland benefits from easy nickname Holly. Actor Holland Taylor – yes, that’s her birth name – also lends it some familiarity as a feminine choice. Though the bigger name this decade is Tom Holland, which makes this name feel even more unisex.

HALEY (#603)

Another spelling of popular Hailey, this one more familiar as a surname.

HADASSAH (#615)

A traditional Jewish name, Hadassah means myrtle, as in the tree.

HALLE (#708)

A spelling of Hallie inspired by Halle Berry, and, for a younger generation, Halle Bailey.

HANA (#724)

The sparest spelling of Hannah. It’s also potentially Arabic, Japanese, or Korean, making Hana effortlessly international.

HENLEY (#737)

A preppy surname name associated with crew, but also the 2013 movie Now You See Me. One of the magicians/bank robbers was Henley, played by Isla Fisher. The name spiked in use for girls in the years following.

HALO (#769)

Part-video game, part-religiously significant name.

HUNTER (#780)

Steadily popular for boys, Hunter is used in small numbers for our daughters, too.

HAYLEY (#829)

Yet another spelling of Hayley, and not the last in the US Top 1000!

HARMONI (#831)

A more casual take on musical, virtuous Harmony.

HADLEE (#854)

Hadley, with the popular -lee spelling.

HARLEE (#881)

Another take on Harley.

HADLEIGH (#965)

Yet another take on literary surname Hadley.

RARE & UNUSUAL H NAMES FOR GIRLS

HAIDEE

In 1819, Lord Byron’s epic poem Don Juan introduced us to Haidee. She’s the daughter of a pirate, and one of Juan’s love interests. Alexander Dumas named a character in The Count of Monte Cristo Haydee, the French version of the name. Neither spelling has seen much use in the US, but they fit in with our Hailey/Hadley moment.

HALCYONE

Like Penelope and Chloe, the final ‘e’ is pronounced on Halcyone. That might be confusing if you’re familiar with the word halcyon – peaceful. There’s a story here. In brief, Alcyone was turned into a kingfisher because she displeased the gods. So was her husband, Ceyx. During the winter solstice, the weather would be calm for fourteen days, as a respite from their punishment – hence, the phrase “halcyon days.” As for the H, that was added in the translation from Greek to Latin, because hals refers to the sea.

HALONA

While lots of sites list this name as Native American, it might be best considered Hawaiian. It means lookout, and it’s the name of a rock formation on Oahu. It’s been used in sparing number in the US since the 1970s.

HALSEY

The singer too her name from two things: an anagram of her given name, Ashley, and the New York City street. Plus, it just sounds like a girl’s given name.

HALSTON

A 1970s fashion powerhouse, Halston retains a little bit of that high fashion glam, while blending in with more familiar picks.

HANAE

It looks like Hannah, but Hanae is Japanese. It’s pronounced ha na eh – three syllables. The first element means flower; the second might refer to a picture, or mean favor. Either way, it’s famous thanks to Japanese fashion designer Hanae Mori.

HANIA

In Arabic, Hania means pleasant. In some Slavic languages, it’s a pet form of Hannah. Either way, Hania has potential. Vin Diesel named his daughter Hania Riley in 2008.

HANNELORE

An old school German smoosh of Hannah and Eleanor, Hannelore isn’t stylish in Germany today. (Though Hannah and Johanna are popular now.) But American parents love longer names, and choices like Annalise are heard, so Hannelore isn’t so out-there.

HANSINE

Along with Hansina and several other possibilities, this unique H name claims a German origin, or Dutch. If they bring to mind fairytale Hansel, that’s because they’re all variations on Hans, a German, Dutch, and Scandi form of John.

HASINA

This name offers two origins: a Swahili name meaning good, or an Arabic name meaning beautiful. The latter might be connected to masculine name Hasan. Either way, it’s an appealing and unexpected sound.

HASSIE

Originally a nickname for Hester or Harriet, Hassie is mostly forgotten in the twenty-first century. But back in the late nineteenth century, it routinely appeared on the fringes of the Top 1000.

HATICE

It looks like a cousin to Harriet, maybe. Or Patrice. Except Hatice is none of those things. It’s Turkish, a form of Khadija – the name of Muhammed’s wife, and a central figure in Islam. It’s not new, either – this version of the name is in use by the 1600s.

HARRIET

A feminine form of Henry, via nickname name Harry, Harriet topped popularity charts in the late nineteenth century. Today it’s seldom heard, but feels ready for revival. Increased interest in the life story of Harriet Tubman might boost the name.

HARTLEY

Hart is another word for deer. Rare for boys and girls alike, this surname refers to a clearing where deer were frequently spotted. But today, it’s likely to make parents think of hearts – a positive association.

HATHAWAY

As in leading lady Anne, but also Shakespeare’s wife, this surname name seems a little unlikely as a first. Except it shortens to Hattie, which puts it in the same camp as Ellison/Ellie, Emerson/Emmy, and so many other surname names with feminine short forms.

HAVILAND

Another Hollywood-inspired H surname name, Haviland comes from Olivia de Havilland. The Golden Age celebrity is probably best known to modern audiences through Ryan Murphy’s docdrama, Feud. The miniseries aired in 2017. A note on spelling: while Olivia’s surname has a double-L, the surname more commonly has only a single-L.

HAVANA

Place name Savannah has topped the US popularity charts for years. So why not Havana? The Cuban capital shares the same sound, and it’s an equally beguiling place. Camila Cabello’s hit 2017 single “Havana” might have put the name on parents’ radar – it more than doubled in use going into 2018.

HEATHER

A Top Ten favorite in the 1970s and 80s, Heather has recently left the US Top 1000. That makes it common as a mom name, but quite rare for a child.

HEDY

In German, Hedwig means battle. It appears from the Middle Ages through the present day, but most of us will recognize Hedwig only as Harry Potter’s pet owl. Nickname Hedy, though, seems intriguing. During Hollywood’s Golden Age, Austrian-born actor Hedy Lamarr starred in dozens of films … and also invented a torpedo guidance system for the US Navy in her free time.

HENNESSY

Hennessy falls somewhere between Hadley and Delaney – a three-syllable surname name with a promising sound.

HENRIETTA

An elaborate name from another age, Henrietta almost sounds like it’s wearing a hoop skirt. But with sparky nicknames like Hetty and Etta, Henrietta might be the perfect pick for a daring namer set on a nickname-rich choice.

HERA

The queen of the Greek gods, Hera fails to rank in the current Top 1000. So does Juno, her equivalent in the Roman pantheon. But Juno does generate some buzz as a cool, edgy baby name. Plus, it has a great meaning: warrior. It’s not clear why we overlook Hera.

HERACLEA

Ultimately a feminine form of Hercules, Heraclea consists of two names no one is using: Hera, as in the Greek goddess, and Clea, meaning glory. We often see it as Cleo. Since neither name ranks in the US Top 1000 in any form, it seems likely Heraclea will remain virtually unused – but it has plenty of potential.

HERMIONE

Luna makes the US Top 100. So does Penelope. So shouldn’t Harry Potter heroine Hermione have boosted the name?

HERO

Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing keeps this name from Greek myth feeling like a possibility for bold namers.

HESTER

A Latin form of Esther, Hester is far more rare these days. Most of us hear it just once, when we read Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter, the tale of Hester Prynne and her trials in Puritan Boston.

HESTIA

The Greek goddess of the hearth and home, Hestia is rare in the US. But, given our love of so many mythological names, a few brave parents have discovered this possibility.

HETTIE

A nickname for Henrietta – or possibly Hester – there’s something delicious about a rare vintage nickname, nearly forgotten, for seldom-heard given names.

HILDA

It puts the -ilda in Matilda. Hild is a Germanic element meaning battle. Hilda stands on its own as an independent name. It ranked in the US Top 100 from the 1890s into the earliest years of the twentieth century, but today is all-but forgotten.

HILDY

It’s sometimes short for Hildegard, another Germanic name in the key of Gertrude and Millicent. If you know your Trading Spaces, you might think of daring designer Hildi Santo-Tomas. Or if you follow Haley Stewart, there’s her daughter, Hildie – actually short for Hildegard Rose. No matter which way you spell it, it’s a sweetly vintage choice.

HOLIDAY

We tend to hear “holiday” as secular – as in a vacation get-away, or “happy holidays.” But it refers to a holy day – a feast. As a surname, it likely refers to someone born on such a day.

HOLLIS

This s-ending pick takes long-time favorite Holly in a tailored, unisex direction.

HONEY

While it’s more often a term of endearment than an actual given name, Honey has a history of use as a casual given name, too. More common in England, Honey has recently risen in use in the US, too.

HONOR

A straight-up word name with an almost vintage appeal, Honor fits in with Faith and Grace, but also Journey and Valor.

HONORIA

Word name Honor inspired Honora and the ever-more elaborate Honoria. (Annora and Onora and Onoria might all be cousins, too.) It’s both clearly connected to the meaning, and undeniably name-like at the same time.

HORTENSIA

Along with Hortense, Hortensia comes from an old Roman family name. While they’re both out of favor in the US right now, Hortense is trending in France right now.

HYACINTH

An unexpected flower name, bold and surprising, Hyacinth might bring to mind the garden. Or, you might think of long-running Britcom Keeping Up Appearances. Hyacinth Bucket – she pronounces it Bouquet – is houseproud, snobbish, and oh-so-funny … but maybe not baby naming inspiration. Still, the series left the air in 1995, so maybe it’s time to reclaim this pretty name.

HYPATIA

An ancient name, Hypatia was a noted philosopher, astronomer, and mathematician in the fourth century. Despite her tolerance for Christianity, rumors of her pro-pagan sympathies led to her murder by a mob. It’s believed her life might be the basis for some of Saint Catherine of Alexandria’s life story, with the Christian and pagan roles reversed.

What are your favorite girl names starting with H?

Originally published on August 10, 2020, this post was updated and republished on November 8, 2021; September 5, 2022; and September 4, 2023.