Henry is a masculine given name of Germanic origin, derived from the Old High German name Heimirich, meaning "home ruler" (from heim "home" and rih "ruler"). The spelling was later influenced by the name Haganrich (from hag "enclosure"), resulting in the common German form Heinrich.Introduced to England by the Normans in the French form Henri (from Latin Henricus), Henry became a royal name, borne by eight kings of England, including the infamous Henry VIII (r. 1509–1547). In medieval England, the name was often pronounced as Harry or Herry, leading to the common short form used even for kings. The name's popularity is reflected in the phrase "Tom, Dick, and Harry," meaning any ordinary men.Royal and Notable BearersAcross continental Europe, Henry was especially popular among royalty. Seven German kings were named Henry, beginning with Henry the Fowler (Henry I) in the 10th century, first of the Saxon kings. Four kings of France also bore the name. In more recent history, notable bearers include Arctic explorer Henry Hudson (c. 1560–1611), novelist Henry James (1843–1916), industrialist Henry Ford (1863–1947), and actor Henry Fonda (1905–1982).Variants and Related FormsThe name has numerous variants across languages. Diminutives in English include Hal and Hank. International equivalents include Henrik (Swedish, Danish, Norwegian), Enric (Catalan), Jindřich (Czech), and Endika (Basque). Surnames derived from Henry include Henderson, Hendry, and Henryson.Meaning: "Home ruler"Origin: Germanic (Old High German)Type: First nameUsage regions: English, Germanic, Romance languages