Harriet

Harriet is an English feminine name derived from the Old French Henriette, itself a diminutive of the Germanic name Heinrich, composed of the elements haim, meaning home, and ric, meaning power or ruler, giving the overall sense of ruler of the home. The name gained wide use in Britain during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, partly through the influence of French fashion and the popularity of the male form Henry among English royalty. Its most celebrated bearer is Harriet Beecher Stowe, the American author whose 1852 novel Uncle Tom's Cabin made her name internationally recognized. Related forms include Henrietta, Harriette, and the pet forms Hattie and Hattie.