Harry

Medieval English spoken form of Old French Henri.

• (Received Pronunciation) enPR: hărʹ-ē, IPA^(key): /ˈhæɹi/

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  • Rhymes: -æɹi
• (General American) enPR: hărʹē
  • (Mary–marry–merry merger) IPA^(key): /ˈhɛɹi/, [ˈhɛɹi], [ˈheɹi]
    • Rhymes: -æɹi, -ɛɹi, -ɛəɹi
    • Homophones: hairy, herry
  • (Mary–marry–merry distinction) IPA^(key): /ˈhæɹi/ (chiefly in NYC, Rhode Island, Boston)

    • Audio (US)

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Harry (plural Harrys or Harries)

1. A male given name
   • c. 1596–1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Fourth, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene v]:

     Yet weep that Harry's dead, and so will I; / But Harry lives that shall convert those tears / By number into hours of happiness.

   • 1830, Mary Russell Mitford, Our Village: Fourth Series: Cottage Names::

     Henry now, what a soft swain your Henry is! the proper theme of gentle poesy; a name to fall in love withal; devoted at the font to song and sonnet, and the tender passion; a baptized inamorato; a christened hero. Call him Harry, and see how you ameliorate his condition. The man is free again, turned out of song and sonnet and romance, and young ladies' hearts. Shakspeare understood this well, when he wrote of prince Hal and Harry Hotspur. To have called them Henry would have spoiled both characters.

   • 2010, Elly Griffiths, “The Janus Stone”, in Ruth Galloway: The Early Cases: A Dr Ruth Galloway Mysteries Collection, Hachette UK, →ISBN:

     'I suppose you think I should call him Harry,' says Ruth.
     'Harry? No. Ever since Harry bloody Potter that's been a nightmare. […]

   1. A male given name from the Germanic languages
   2. A male given name from French, originating as an Anglicization of Henri
   3. A diminutive of the male given name Henry, Harold
2. (rare compared to given name) A surname originating as a patronymic.
3. (rare nickname) A diminutive of the female given name Harriet

From English Harry.

Harry

1. a male given name

Borrowed from English Harry.

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Harry

1. a male given name

From English Harry.

Harry

1. a male given name

Unadapted borrowing from English Harry.

Harry m

1. a male given name from English, equivalent to English Harry

From English Harry.

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Harry c (genitive Harrys)

1. a male given name