Is Hal a boy's or girl's name?

Hal is primarily a boy's name. It is also used as a girl's name, with 12 recorded births.

When was Hal most popular?

Hal reached its peak popularity in 1956 with 598 births that year. It is currently ranked #3471 in the U.S.

How popular is the name Hal?

Hal is currently ranked #3471 in the U.S. (2024). It has been given to 16,746 babies since 1880.

Hal

An uncommon Old English pick — distinctive and rare.

Boy's name| Also girlsOld EnglishDeclining Also a pet name

#3471▼ 453in 2024

Meaning & Origin

A diminutive of the male given names Henry, Harold and Harry.

Hal is a boy's and girl's baby name of Old English origin, a medieval short form of Harry, Harold, or Henry, from the Germanic Haganrich or Heimerich meaning 'home ruler' or 'ruler of the estate.'

With over 16,000 recorded U.S. births, Hal has the same vintage cool as names like Hank, Rex, and Clem. Prince Hal is Shakespeare's mischievous, brilliant young king in Henry IV. The AI antagonist HAL 9000 in 2001: A Space Odyssey gave it a different, chilling connotation — but as a given name, Hal is warm, simple, and unmistakably classic.

Compare Hal with another name

Popularity Over Time

Hal climbed 4283 spots in the last 20 years — from #7754 to #3471.

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Hal
Decade	Births	Avg Rank	Trend
2020s	152	#3898	▼
2010s	184	#5299	▲
2000s	156	#5868	▼
1990s	263	#2976	▼
1980s	531	#1387	▼
1970s	889	#908	▼
1960s	2,199	#556	▼
1950s	4,422	#347	▲
1940s	2,615	#397	▲
1930s	1,810	#422	—
1920s	1,834	#448	▲
1910s	1,073	#477	▲
1900s	229	#473	▲
1890s	211	#419	▲
1880s	178	#462	—

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(145 years, 1880–2024)

Year-by-year popularity data for the name Hal
Year	Births	Rank	Change
2024	33	#3471	-8 (-19.5%)
2023	41	#3018	+26 (173.3%)
2022	15	#5961	-15 (-50.0%)
2021	30	#3678	-3 (-9.1%)
2020	33	#3361	+12 (57.1%)
2019	21	#4686	-9 (-30.0%)
2018	30	#3642	+14 (87.5%)
2017	16	#5620	+1 (6.7%)
2016	15	#5882	-5 (-25.0%)
2015	20	#4776	-2 (-9.1%)
2014	22	#4437	+6 (37.5%)
2013	16	#5478	-3 (-15.8%)
2012	19	#4919	+4 (26.7%)
2011	15	#5767	+5 (50.0%)
2010	10	#7783	-2 (-16.7%)
2009	12	#6958	+3 (33.3%)
2008	9	#8537	-6 (-40.0%)
2007	15	#5747	+1 (7.1%)
2006	14	#5887	+6 (75.0%)
2005	8	#8564	-1 (-11.1%)

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.

Hal as a Girl's Name

While overwhelmingly a boy's name, Hal has also been given to 12 girls in the U.S. since 1924.

Unranked

Current rank

Total births

1924

Peak year

Compare Hal as boy vs girl

Frequently Asked

Can Hal be used for both boys and girls?

Yes, Hal is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name, it currently ranks #3471. As a girl's name, it is not currently in the top rankings.

Hal has two lives

Hal, the baby name

#3471boys

16,746 babies

Currently viewing

Last updated May 2026 · Data: U.S. Social Security Administration (1880–2024) · Methodology

Hal