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The short answer
Harrison is a masculine English name taken from a surname meaning "son of Harry", pronounced HAR-i-sən (or HER-i-sən in some American accents). Behind the Name notes it was the surname of two American presidents, William Henry Harrison and his grandson Benjamin Harrison, and that as a given name it "reached a low point in America in 1977 before it was revived by the career of actor Harrison Ford". Harry itself is a form of Henry, whose Germanic root means "home ruler". In 2025 Harrison ranked #116 for boys in the United States.
Meaning and etymology
Behind the Name gives Harrison as "from an English surname that meant 'son of Harry'". The Harry entry itself was not available in this pass, but Behind the Name's Henry entry lists Harry as a variant and diminutive of Henry, and traces Henry to the Germanic name Heimirich, "home ruler", from the elements heim "home" and rih "ruler"; the same entry notes that in the later Middle Ages Henry "was generally rendered as Harry or Herry in English pronunciation". So Harrison is, at two removes, a "son of Henry" name. No competing origin is recorded.
Editorial confidence: established
Linguistic roots
| Language | Form | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| English | Harrison (surname) | son of Harry |
| Medieval English | Harry | English pronunciation of Henry (per the Behind the Name Henry entry) |
| Germanic | Heimirich | home ruler (heim "home" + rih "ruler") |
Popularity
Harrison ranked #116 for boys in the United States in 2025 (Social Security Administration). Behind the Name reports that the name hit its American low in 1977 and was revived by Harrison Ford's Star Wars (1977) and Indiana Jones (1984) roles; that trend narrative is quoted second-hand and the 1977 figure should be checked against the SSA historical series.
| Region | Year | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2025 | #116 | ssa-2025 |
Nicknames, variants, and related names
Nicknames: Harry
Variants: None documented.
Related names: Harry, Henry, Henderson, Hendry, Henryson
What the name feels like
Harrison is a three-syllable surname-name with an old-establishment feel: two presidents on the family tree, and a built-in nickname (Harry) that is as informal as the full name is stately. It reads as a longer, more formal route to Harry than Henry does, and pairs naturally with other -son names without sounding invented.
Style tags: surname name, presidential, three syllables, -son ending, classic
Editorial interpretation: These style impressions are editorial judgment, not linguistic fact. Harry is listed as a nickname because the surname means "son of Harry"; the sources do not document it as a traditional diminutive of Harrison specifically. The surname descendants Henderson, Hendry and Henryson are taken from the Behind the Name Henry entry.
If you like this name
Names that share Harrison's surname shape, its Henry family, or its stately sound.
Similar by origin
- Henry
- Harry
- Henderson
Similar by style
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Harrison mean?
Harrison means "son of Harry". It comes from an English surname; Harry is the medieval English form of Henry, which Behind the Name traces to the Germanic Heimirich, "home ruler".
Is Harrison a popular name?
Harrison ranked #116 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data. Behind the Name says the name's revival dates from Harrison Ford's film career beginning in 1977.
What are nicknames for Harrison?
Harry is the obvious short form, since the surname itself means "son of Harry". The sources used here list no other diminutives.
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Harrison — supports etymology, pronunciation, presidential surname note, 1977 low and Harrison Ford revival.
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Henry — supports Harry as a form of Henry, Heimirich "home ruler" root, surname descendants.
- U.S. Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names — national data, year of birth 2025 — supports popularity.
