Girl Names That Start With H
H names have a breathy, friendly softness — you can hear it in Hazel, Hannah and Harper, three of the best-loved girls’ names in the US over the last twenty years. The letter also hides a surprising number of vintage gems, from Hattie and Harriet to Henrietta, that are slowly returning from the early twentieth century.
Here are more than 100 girl names that start with H, grouped by style so you can browse by feel, and each paired with a true meaning. Nature lovers will find plenty to like: heather, holly and hyacinth all begin with H, and our flower names for girls go further. Compare letters with girl names that start with G and I, or see boy names that start with H.
Popular girl names that start with H
Hazel and Harper have both been SSA top-20 names in recent years; the rest are well-known favorites.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Hazel | The hazel tree; also a warm brown-green color | English |
| Harper | Harp player | English surname |
| Hannah | Grace, favor | Hebrew |
| Hailey | Hay clearing, hay meadow | Old English |
| Harmony | Agreement, concord | Greek |
| Heaven | The sky; paradise | English |
| Hadley | Heather field | Old English |
| Hallie | Short for Harriet or Halle, “hall” | English |
| Hope | Hope, expectation | English |
| Holly | The holly tree | English |
| Hattie | Home ruler (short for Harriet) | English |
| Haven | Safe place, refuge | English |
| Heidi | Noble kind (short for Adelheid) | German |
| Halle | Hall, manor; also Norse “rock” | English / Old Norse |
| Helen | Torch, or possibly “shining light” | Greek |
| Hayden | Hay valley | Old English |
| Hunter | One who hunts | English |
Vintage H names due for a revival
Most were common from about 1880 to 1930 — exactly the era parents are raiding for names today. See old lady names for more of this style.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Harriet | Home ruler (feminine of Harry) | English |
| Henrietta | Home ruler (feminine of Henry) | English / French |
| Helena | Torch, bright one | Greek (via Latin) |
| Hilda | Battle | Germanic |
| Hester | Star (variant of Esther) | Persian (via English) |
| Hortense | Gardener | French (from Latin) |
| Hannelore | Grace + light, or “Hanna + Eleonore” | German |
| Honora | Honor | Latin |
| Hettie | Home ruler (short for Henrietta) | English |
| Hyacinth | The hyacinth flower; blue | Greek |
| Hildegard | Battle protector | Germanic |
| Hedda | Battle | Germanic (from Hedwig) |
| Hedwig | Battle, fight | Germanic |
| Hermione | Messenger; from Hermes | Greek |
Elegant and romantic H names
Longer, lyrical H names with a cultured feel. Browse elegant girl names for more.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Héloïse | Healthy, wide (French form of Eloise) | French |
| Honorine | Honor | French |
| Hortensia | Garden; the hydrangea flower | Spanish / Latin |
| Helene | Light, torch | French / German |
| Henriette | Home ruler | French |
| Hosanna | Save now, please (a cry of praise) | Hebrew |
| Halcyon | Kingfisher; calm, peaceful days | Greek |
| Harmonie | Harmony | French |
| Helaine | Light, torch | French |
| Hyacinthe | Hyacinth flower | French |
| Hesper | Evening star | Greek |
Unique girl names starting with H
Unusual choices that still feel wearable. See unique girl names and rare girl names for more.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Holland | Wood land; the Dutch region | Dutch / English |
| Hero | Priestess of Aphrodite in the legend of Hero and Leander | Greek |
| Honor | Honor, integrity | English |
| Harlow | Rock hill, army hill | Old English |
| Hollis | Near the holly trees | Old English |
| Hensley | Henn’s meadow | English surname |
| Hadassah | Myrtle tree (Esther’s Hebrew name) | Hebrew |
| Haisley | Modern blend, from Hazel + Paisley | American |
| Honey | Sweet nectar; a term of endearment | English |
| Hartley | Deer meadow | Old English |
| Havana | The Cuban capital | Spanish |
| Henley | High wood or meadow | Old English |
| Haddie | Short for Hadley, heather field | English |
| Halina | Calm, serene | Polish |
Short H names for girls
Short, sweet names that suit long surnames and double as middle names. More at short girl names.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Hana | Flower (Japanese); bliss (Arabic) | Japanese / Arabic |
| Hebe | Youth; Greek goddess of youth | Greek |
| Hira | Diamond | Urdu / Sanskrit |
| Hae | Grace, sea | Korean |
| Hedy | Battle (short for Hedwig) | German |
| Hen | Short for Henrietta, “home ruler” | English |
| Haya | Modesty (Arabic); life (Hebrew) | Arabic / Hebrew |
| Hind | Possibly “a group of camels”; a classic name | Arabic |
| Hena | Henna; a fragrant plant | Arabic / Urdu |
Nature names that start with H
From heather-covered moors to hummingbirds, H covers a lot of the natural world. Find more in nature names for girls.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Heather | The purple-flowering moorland shrub | Scottish / English |
| Hydrangea | Water vessel; the flowering shrub | Greek |
| Honeysuckle | The sweet-scented climbing flower | English |
| Hibiscus | The tropical flower | Latin (from Greek) |
| Harbor | A safe coastal shelter | English |
| Hawthorn | The hawthorn tree | English |
| Heath | Open land covered in heather | English |
| Hollyhock | The tall cottage-garden flower | English |
| Horizon | Where earth meets sky | Greek |
H names from around the world
International H names, many with gorgeous meanings, and a pronunciation guide where needed.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Hanna | Grace | Scandinavian / German |
| Hiba | Gift | Arabic |
| Hiroko | Generous child | Japanese |
| Hoa | Flower (HWAH) | Vietnamese |
| Haruka | Distant, spring flower | Japanese |
| Hafsa | Young lioness; wife of the Prophet | Arabic |
| Hanife | Upright, true believer | Turkish (from Arabic) |
| Habiba | Beloved | Arabic / Swahili |
| Hye-jin | Wisdom + treasure | Korean |
| Hina | Sun, light (Japanese); goddess of the moon (Polynesian) | Japanese / Polynesian |
| Huda | Right guidance | Arabic |
| Hema | Golden | Sanskrit |
| Hollie | Holly tree | English |
| Helmi | Pearl | Finnish |
| Hanako | Flower child | Japanese |
| Hedvika | Battle | Czech |
| Hayat | Life | Arabic / Turkish |
| Hilde | Battle | Norwegian / German |
| Hanan | Tenderness, compassion | Arabic |
Biblical and mythological H names
H names from scripture and ancient legend. See biblical girl names and Greek goddess names.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Hagar | Flight, stranger (Genesis 16) | Hebrew |
| Huldah | Weasel; a prophetess (2 Kings 22) | Hebrew |
| Hephzibah | My delight is in her (Isaiah 62:4) | Hebrew |
| Hera | Queen of the Greek gods | Greek |
| Hestia | Hearth; goddess of the home | Greek |
| Hecate | Worker from afar; goddess of crossroads | Greek |
| Hel | Hidden; Norse ruler of the underworld | Old Norse |
| Harmonia | Goddess of harmony, daughter of Ares and Aphrodite | Greek |
| Hathor | House of Horus; Egyptian goddess of love | Egyptian |
| Hippolyta | Freer of horses; Amazon queen | Greek |
| Hoglah | Partridge (Numbers 26:33) | Hebrew |
| Hesione | Trojan princess rescued by Heracles | Greek |
How to choose an H name
- Watch for the silent H. Some international H names drop the H sound in their home language (Hélène in French is eh-LEN). Decide how you’ll say it.
- Mind the surname. H names ending in -ey or -ie (Hailey, Hattie) can repeat sounds with surnames ending the same way.
- Try a vintage nickname. Henrietta and Harriet give you Hattie, Hettie, Etta and Retta — lots of options in one name.
- Look at the meaning. Hope, Honor and Haven carry their meanings on their sleeve; Hannah (grace) and Helen (light) are gentler.
- Check similar names in your circle. Hailey, Haley, Hayley and Hallie can easily collide in the same class.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most popular girl name that starts with H?
Hazel is the most popular H name for girls in the US by recent SSA data, followed by Harper and Hannah.
What are vintage girl names that start with H?
Harriet, Henrietta, Hattie, Hazel, Hilda, Hester, Helen and Hedwig were all popular around 1900.
What are unique girl names that start with H?
Holland, Hero, Harlow, Hadassah, Hesper and Halcyon are distinctive options.
What H names mean “light”?
Helen, Helena, Helene and Helaine are traditionally linked to the Greek word for torch or shining light.
Is Harper a girl’s name?
Yes. Harper was once mainly a surname but became one of the most popular girls’ names in the US in the 2010s. It means “harp player.”