Harold (given name)
Depiction of the Anglo-Saxon king Harold Godwinson on the Bayeux Tapestry | |
| Gender | Male and one time female |
|---|---|
| Origin | |
| Word/name | Proto-Germanic, via Old English and Old Norse |
| Meaning | Military-Power or Army-Ruler |
| Region of origin | England |
| Other names | |
| Related names | Harald (German and Continental Scandinavian), Haraldur (Icelandic), Haroldo (Spanish, Portuguese), Aroldo (Italian) |
Harold is an English personal name. The modern name Harold ultimately derives from the Proto-Germanic *harja-waldaz, meaning 'military-power' or 'army-ruler'. The name entered Modern English via the Old English from Hereweald, which retained the same meaning and was prevalent in Anglo-Saxon England. The name's popularity in Viking Age England would also have been bolstered by the use of the Old Norse form Haraldr among Scandinavian settlers in the Danelaw.