Harald
Meaning of Harald
The name Harald is a strong and classic male name of Scandinavian origin, meaning "ruler of the army" or "army leader." Pronounced as HAH-rahlt in German and HAH-rald in English, this name has historical roots dating back to ancient Norse culture. It is closely associated with various kings and leaders throughout history, including the famous Viking king Harald Fairhair who unified Norway. The English variation of the name is Harold, which shares a similar noble heritage. Although its popularity has waned over the years in the United States, with occurrences ranging from 5 to 23 newborns annually since 1913, Harald remains a timeless choice for parents seeking a name that embodies leadership and strength.
Pronunciation
German
- Pronunced as HAH-rahlt (/ˈhaʁalt/)
English
- Pronunced as HAH-rald (/ˈhɑrəld/)
U.S. Popularity Chart
Notable People Named Harald
| Harald Hardrada - Harald Sigurdsson, also known as Harald III of Norway, was a powerful and ambitious king who unsuccessfully claimed the thrones of Denmark and England, and spent years in exile as a mercenary and military commander. |
| Harald Fairhair, a Norwegian king from 872 to 930, is known as the first King of Norway, and his sons Eric Bloodaxe and Haakon the Good succeeded him as kings. |
| Harald Tambs-Lyche is a renowned Norwegian ethnologist and social anthropologist. |
| Harald zur Hausen was a German virologist known for his research on cervical cancer and the discovery of the role of papilloma viruses in the disease, earning him the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2008. |
| Harald Glööckler is a German fashion designer known for his rhinestone-studded and glittering creations, often featuring a crown motif and "POMPÖÖS" lettering. |
| Harald Franz Schmidt is a well-known German actor, comedian, television presenter, and writer, famous for hosting two popular German late-night shows. |
| Harald Ulrik Sverdrup was a prominent Norwegian oceanographer and meteorologist, known for his directorship at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography and the Norwegian Polar Institute. |
| Harald Eika Frey is a Norwegian professional basketball player for the Telekom Baskets Bonn in Germany, known for his college basketball career with the Montana State Bobcats. |
| Harald Lesch is a German physicist, astronomer, author, and television presenter, known for his work in physics and natural philosophy. |
| Harald Sæther is a Norwegian composer and member of the Norwegian Society of Composers and New Music Composers Group. |
| Harald Uhlig - Harald Friedrich Hans Volker Sigmar Uhlig is a prominent German macroeconomist and professor at the University of Chicago. |
| Harald Juhnke was a renowned German actor, comedian, and singer. |
| Harald Helfgott - Harald Andrés Helfgott is a Peruvian mathematician known for his work in number theory and is a researcher at the CNRS at the Institut Mathématique de Jussieu, Paris. |
| Harald Zwart is a Dutch-Norwegian film director known for his work in the film industry. |
| Harald Jähner is a German journalist and author, also serving as an honorary professor of cultural journalism at the Berlin University of the Arts since 2011. |
