Gary vs Harold

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Gary

Boy #1,133 Most Popular 2 Syllables

"spear ruler"

Origin: Germanic

American English Irish

12 High Risk

{:type=>:nickname, :severity=>:medium, :message=>"'Gary' can be twisted to 'scary'"}

Boy #991 Most Popular 2 Syllables

"army ruler, power of the army"

Origin: Old English

English Scandinavian American

✓ All Clear

Gary Rank #1,133

Harold Rank #991

Harold is more popular, ranked #991 vs #1133 for Gary.

Is Gary or Harold more popular?

Harold is more popular, ranked #991 compared to Gary at #1133 in the United States.

What do Gary and Harold mean?

Gary means "spear ruler" (Germanic origin). Harold means "army ruler, power of the army" (Old English origin).

Are Gary and Harold boy or girl names?

Gary is primarily a boy name. Harold is primarily a boy name.