Harriet is the English feminine form of Harry, and so of Henry, from the Germanic Heinrich, meaning "home ruler". Two of the most important women in American history bore it: Harriet Tubman, who led enslaved people to freedom, and Harriet Beecher Stowe, author of Uncle Tom's Cabin. After decades out of use Harriet returned to the US top 1000 at number 991 in 2019 and ranks number 1073 in 2025.