Henry✳

Henry was derived from the French Henri, which ultimately comes from the Germanic name Heimrich, made up of the components heim, meaning "home" or "estate," and rich, meaning "ruler." The most famous bearer is Henry VIII of England, best known for having six wives—two of whom he beheaded for not bearing him sons. It's been used in the British royal family many times since, including for the current prince better known as Harry.

Other illustrious Henrys that might provide baby name inspiration include Henry David Thoreau, Henry (Hank) Aaron, Henry James, Henry Ford and Henry Miller. For lovers of literature, it appears in a number of classic novels including Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (Henry Clerval) and Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray (Lord Henry Wotton).

Appealing international versions include Henri, Arrigo, Enrico, Enzio and Enrique, while those wanting something a bit more contemporary might like Hendrix, Endrick, and Henley.