Harold
/ˈhær.əld/noun
A male given name of Old English origin.
Did you know?The name comes from an old Germanic war-name formula, *hari-* “army” + *-wald* “rule,” the same ancient power-root behind names like Oswald and Walter.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*harja-waldaz
“army rule; one who rules an army”
Old English
OE
Hereweald
“army ruler; commander”
Old Norse
ON
Haraldr
“personal name meaning army ruler”
Old French
OF
Heraut / Haraut
“name form adopted into medieval usage”
Middle English
ME
Harold
“male personal name”
Modern English
EN
Harold
“a male given name”