| Robert | Henry | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Bright fame | Home ruler |
| Origin | Germanic | Germanic |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | ROB-ert | HEN-ree |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1880 | 1880 |
| Peak year | 1947 (91,655) | 2025 (12,020) |
| In 2025 | 3,772 | 12,020 |
| Trend | Declining | Near its peak |
Source: US Social Security Administration.
| Decade | Robert | Henry |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 24,325 | 68,047 |
| 2010s | 62,654 | 92,585 |
| 2000s | 106,666 | 42,760 |
| 1990s | 205,459 | 25,249 |
| 1980s | 321,655 | 20,728 |
| 1970s | 397,225 | 23,511 |
| 1960s | 650,786 | 39,134 |
| 1950s | 830,395 | 62,230 |
| 1940s | 758,126 | 72,488 |
| 1930s | 590,810 | 70,419 |
| 1920s | 576,374 | 104,552 |
| 1910s | 239,185 | 79,667 |
| 1900s | 35,849 | 21,772 |
| 1890s | 26,147 | 21,664 |
| 1880s | 24,074 | 24,139 |
Robert is a Germanic name from hrod (“fame”) and beraht (“bright”), so “bright fame.” A Norman favourite, it was borne by the Scottish hero-king Robert the Bruce.
Henry is a Germanic name meaning “home ruler,” from heim (“home”) and ric (“ruler”). It has been borne by eight English kings.
Henry is more popular than Robert today: about 12,020 US babies were given the name Henry in 2025, compared with 3,772 named Robert.
Robert means Bright fame (Germanic origin), while Henry means Home ruler (Germanic origin).
In US records, Robert first appears in 1880 and Henry in 1880, so Robert has the longer recorded history.