Harold Wilson

Name meaning, origin and global statistics

Harold Wilson — army ruler
557K People worldwide
United States Most common in
1970s Peak popularity
Gender
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Harold Wilson is a name combining Germanic origins, bringing together "army ruler" (Harold) with "son of Will" (Wilson). The first name Harold is a masculine given name of Germanic origin. 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. Chariovalda (d. 16), Batavian chieftain and Roman ally, killed near the River Weser Hagrold (fl. The surname Wilson: Wilson is a British surname, common in the English-speaking world, with several distinct origins. The name is derived from a patronymic form of Will, a popular medieval name. The medieval Will is derived from any of several names containing Old Norse or the first Germanic element wil, meaning “will” or "desire". The surname Wilson is first recorded in England as Willeson in 1324 and in Scotland as Wulson in 1405. It is the seventh most common surname in England, and tenth most common in the United States, occurring 783,051 times as of 2000. Wilson is the third most common surname in Scotland. Harold is a well-known first name, carried by approximately 557K people globally, with the highest concentration in United States. The name Harold reached peak popularity in the 1970s, reflecting the naming trends of that era.

Etymology & Origin

First Name: Harold

Meaning: army ruler

Germanic

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. Chariovalda (d. 16), Batavian chieftain and Roman ally, killed near the River Weser Hagrold (fl.

Surname: Wilson

Meaning: son of Will

Germanic

Wilson is a British surname, common in the English-speaking world, with several distinct origins. The name is derived from a patronymic form of Will, a popular medieval name. The medieval Will is derived from any of several names containing Old Norse or the first Germanic element wil, meaning “will” or "desire". The surname Wilson is first recorded in England as Willeson in 1324 and in Scotland as Wulson in 1405. It is the seventh most common surname in England, and tenth most common in the United States, occurring 783,051 times as of 2000. Wilson is the third most common surname in Scotland.

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Geographic Distribution

The first name Harold is distributed across the globe, with the highest concentrations in the following countries:

United States 51%
United Kingdom 27%
Australia 12%
Canada 9%

Popularity Over Time

Popularity of the name Harold by decade, based on birth registration data:

1900s
1910s
1920s
1930s
1940s
1950s
1960s
1970s
1980s
1990s
2000s
2010s
2020s
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Notable People Named Harold Wilson

People listed above share this name. Listed for informational purposes only. Source: Wikipedia.

Numerology

According to Pythagorean numerology, each letter in a name carries a numerical value. Here are the key numbers for Harold Wilson:

6
Expression Number

Nurturing and responsibility. Associated with care, family values and a strong sense of duty towards loved ones.

22
Soul Urge Number

Master Builder (Master Number 22). Combines grand vision with the practical ability to achieve lasting, large-scale goals.

11
Personality Number

Intuition and inspiration (Master Number 11). Amplifies spiritual awareness, creative vision and sensitivity.

Numerology is a cultural tradition for exploring symbolism in names. Results are for entertainment purposes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the origin of the first name Harold?
The first name Harold originates from Germanic. 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. Chariovalda (d. 16), Batavian chieftain and Roman ally, killed near the River Weser Hagrold (fl.
When was Harold most popular?
The name Harold reached its peak popularity during the 1970s.
What is the origin of the surname Wilson?
The surname Wilson originates from Germanic. Wilson is a British surname, common in the English-speaking world, with several distinct origins. The name is derived from a patronymic form of Will, a popular medieval name. The medieval Will is derived from any of several names containing Old Norse or the first Germanic element wil, meaning “will” or "desire". The surname Wilson is first recorded in England as Willeson in 1324 and in Scotland as Wulson in 1405. It is the seventh most common surname in England, and tenth most common in the United States, occurring 783,051 times as of 2000. Wilson is the third most common surname in Scotland.
How common is the surname Wilson?
The surname Wilson is shared by approximately 802K people worldwide.
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