Harald

The traditional German name Harald carries the meanings 'the commander' and 'the army leader.' Its original form, Harja-waldaz, can be traced back to the Old Norse terms harja, meaning 'army,' and walda, which stands for 'to rule' or 'to govern.'

What does the name Harald mean?

Harald is a historically evolved German name that means 'the commander' and 'the army leader.' These meanings derive from the original form Harja-waldaz. The Old Norse roots are harja, meaning 'army,' and walda, meaning 'to rule' or 'to govern.' In Old High German, the terms heri and walda are relevant with the same meanings. The name has been borne by several kings in Denmark, Norway, and England, including the current Norwegian king Harald (Harald V of Norway). In Germany, the name has lost significance as a boy's name and was, however, a common first name until the 1970s.

Where does the name Harald come from?

The name Harald has its roots in ancient Germanic and is composed of the Old Norse words 'harja' for 'army' and 'walda' for 'to rule, to govern.' The original form is believed to be 'Harja-waldaz.' Old High German, Old Norse, and Germanic are the relevant language families. The composition of the words is: harja = army (Old Norse) and walda = to rule, to govern (Old Norse). Common languages include Old German, Danish, German, Norwegian, Swedish, and other Scandinavian languages.

How do you pronounce Harald?

The sound and pronunciation of the name Harald is two syllables and clearly structured. In German pronunciation, it is usually articulated as 'Ha-rald' [ˈhaːʁalt], starting with a long, open 'a' that conveys openness. The final 'ld' gives the name stability. Harald has a Nordic sound and radiates consistency, calmness, and tradition.

When is the name day of Harald?

The name day for Harald is celebrated on June 27 and June 28 (for Ariald, the founder of the Pataria) as well as on November 1 (for Harald Bluetooth, King of Denmark and Norway).

Popularity

From 1880 to 1969, the first name Harald consistently ranked between the top 20 and top 60 in Germany for many decades. In particular, it reached 15th place in 1932. In the 1940s and 1950s, the name mostly remained in the top 20 to top 30, thus being in the extended top group of the most popular first names. From 1970, a noticeable decline began. The decade started with 46th place but fell by the end of the 1970s into the range of the top 200 to top 400.

Nicknames & pet names

Aarald / Ald / Dirty Harry / Hally / Hara / Haraldinio / Haraldino / Hardy / Hari / Haribo / Harren / Harry / Hatsch / Raldi / Raldo

Similar first names

Famous people

• Harald Anton Schumacher (goalkeeper of the German national football team 1979-1987)
• Harald Berg (French footballer)
• Harald Bluetooth (Danish king, 910-987)
• Harald de Man (Dutch skier)
• Harald Dietl (theater and film actor as well as voice actor)
• Harald Fleischer (German footballer)
• Harald Glööckler (German fashion designer)
• Harald Greifenegger (footballer from Germany)
• Harald Grieg (Norwegian publisher)
• Harald Günther (chemist from Germany)
• Harald Hasenfuß (English king, 1016-1040)
• Harald Heinrich (vicar general in the Diocese of Augsburg)
• Harald Helfrich (actor, son of Bernd Helfrich)
• Harald Henriksen (Danish painter)
• Harald Huysman (racing driver from Norway)
• Harald J. Freyberger (German doctor)
• Harald Jockusch (German biologist)
• Harald Juhnke (actor, entertainer)
• Harald Koch (Austrian badminton player)
• Harald Kollegger (writer from Austria)