Hal Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Hal originates from Old English, meaning 'nook' or 'shelter'. It has evolved from the Old English 'Hall' to its current form. The name is often viewed as friendly and approachable, with no biblical relevance. It gained popularity in the 19th century and has several variants.
The name Hal is most popular in Utah, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Baby Boomers generation in the South region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Hal has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Hal' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 457th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 428th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 382nd out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 784th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 1786th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 5004th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 4224th out of 23106 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 7503rd out of 9107 names. Discover how the name 'Hal' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Hal"
Pronunciation
/hæl/
Origin
Old English
Etymology
The name Hal is derived from the Old English name 'Hall', which means 'nook' or 'shelter'. It is often considered a diminutive form of names like Harold or Henry.
Meaning
nook, shelter
Language Evolution
Hall (Old English), Hal (Middle English), Hal (Modern English)
Historical Usage
Hal gained popularity as a nickname in the 19th century and has been used as a standalone name since the 20th century.
Variants & Derivatives
Halbert, Harold, Henry, Hale
Modern Popularity & Image
Hal is considered a friendly and approachable name, often associated with warmth and reliability. It has a casual and informal tone.
Famous People
Hal Ashby (film director), Hal Jordan (fictional character in DC Comics), Hal Steinbrenner (businessman)
Explore More Hal Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Hal"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Hal"
"Hal" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 457th of 7545 | 2,724 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 428th of 6773 | 3,423 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 382nd of 7552 | 7,261 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 784th of 10718 | 1,712 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 1786th of 16616 | 659 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 5004th of 24088 | 261 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 4224th of 23106 | 292 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 7503rd of 9107 | 12 |
Regional Popularity of "Hal" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
30.37% 430th/1416 |
52.72% 727th/1379 |
17.54% 415th/2366 |
28.02% 320th/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
26.33% 407th/1546 |
45.18% 703rd/1556 |
16.15% 380th/2353 |
20.69% 320th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
16.61% 370th/2227 |
15.60% 379th/2430 |
13.18% 376th/2853 |
12.94% 359th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
31.12% 914th/2937 |
21.76% 758th/3483 |
21.86% 769th/3518 |
22.58% 913th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
64.56% 2379th/3685 |
44.67% 1999th/4475 |
38.18% 1983rd/5194 |
38.90% 2457th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - |
68.67% 5022nd/7313 |
- |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- |
73.95% 3318th/4487 |
- |
65.98% 4141st/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Hal" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Hal"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Hal" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.