Hal

Hal is an English given name that originated as a medieval short form of Harry, which is itself a vernacular form of Henry, ultimately derived from the Germanic elements hari meaning army and ric meaning power or ruler. The name gained lasting literary prominence through Shakespeare's history plays, where Prince Hal is the youthful nickname of the future King Henry V of England. It was widely used as an independent given name in the English-speaking world, particularly during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Related forms include Harry, Henry, and the Germanic Heinrich.