Hal

Hal is an English pet form of Henry, which derives from the Germanic name Heimirich, composed of the elements heim, meaning home, and ric, meaning power or ruler. The name gained wide cultural recognition through Shakespeare's history plays, where Prince Hal is the familiar name of the future King Henry V of England. It later developed as an independent given name and is also used as a short form of Harold, itself from the Old English Hereweald, meaning army ruler. Harald and Harry are among its closest cognates.