If you’ve already found the perfect first name and are looking for the ideal middle name for your sweet bundle of joy, here are some great middle names that start with the letter H. Take a look!
Unisex Middle Names That Start With H
- HadleyHadley has English origins and means “heather field”. The name Hadley was made popular by Ernest Hemingway’s first wife. In recent years, the show True Blood has kept it in the rankings. Most first names of any syllable will work with Hadley as a middle name.
- HunterPrimarily gender-neutral, Hunter has a British origin. It means “hunter, pursuer”. Parents may choose this name to represent how intently their child will pursue or reach their goals.
- HarleyHarley was once a name only for boys, but it has become more popular with girls in recent years. It’s gender-neutral and of British origin. It means “hare meadow, the long field”. The name pairs well with one-, two-, and three-syllable first names.
- HaidenPrimarily unisex, Haiden has an English origin. This spelling is the variant of Hayden. It means “from the hay downs”. The name’s meaning isn’t the most attractive, but it does pair well with any syllable name.
- HarperPrimarily unisex, Harper is a name that’s become more popular with baby girls in recent years. It’s of British origin and means “harpist, minstrel”. It pairs well with classic names like Robert or Ann.
- Hawley Primarily unisex, Hawley has an Old English origin. It means “hedged meadow”. The name pairs best with first names like Lee, Joe, Lana, Lucas, Anabelle, or Orlando.
- HazelWith British origin, Hazel means “the hazel tree”. The name pairs well with two and three-syllable first names.
- Hillary Primarily gender-neutral, Hillary has a Greek origin. It means “cheerful”. Parents that want to express this personality trait to their child might choose this name. They may decide to choose it to express how happy they are about the pregnancy.
- Hedley Primarily unisex, Hedley has an Old English origin and means “heathered meadow”. Parents that choose this name might pair it with first names like Carsen, Ava, Joan, Shane, or Jan.
- Hollis Primarily unisex, Hollis has a British origin. It means “the holly tree”. The name doesn’t have significant meaning but it does pair well with one, two, and three-syllable first names.
- Hyde With American origins, Hyde means “from the hide”. It pairs best with any syllable first name like Jacob, Zachary, Less, or Ezekiel.
- HavenPrimarily unisex, Haven has an English origin. It means “safe place”. Parents will love the meaning behind the name and might choose it to express their feelings about their baby. Alternatively, it could symbolize what they wish their child to have in life.
- Happy Primarily unisex, Happy has an American origin. It means “joyful”. Parents that feel happiness when they think of their baby might want to express that with this middle name. It could also represent what they wish for their child’s life.
- Hartley Primarily gender-neutral, Hartley has a British origin. It means “deer field”. The name doesn’t have great meaning, but it does pair well with any syllable first name like Grace, Cora, Jack, Maddox, Adeline, Arabella, Angelo, or Emmanuel.
- Hero Primarily gender-neutral, Hero has a Greek origin. It means “brave one of the people”. Parents that want a name of strength or courage will love this name for their baby of either gender. Alternatively, parents could choose it to symbolize the baby being their hero.
- Houston Houston has Irish, Gaelic, and Old English origins. It means “Hugh’s town, settlement on the hill”. It’s also the name of a city in Texas. States and cities have become a popular trend with baby names. This name pairs well with any syllable first name.
- Hoku With Hawaiian origins, Hoku means “star”. Parents that want a name to represent how beautiful and bright their daughter is might opt for this middle name.
- Hikaru Primarily unisex, Hikaru has a Japanese origin. It means “light, radiance”. Parents that feel their child brings light to the world and want to represent that will adore this middle name. Alternatively, parents of Japanese descent may want a name with deep meaning.
- Hyssop Primarily unisex, Hyssop has a Hebrew origin. In the Bible, it’s an herb that was known for its healing ailments and for cleansing the soul. Devout parents will love this name because it represents healing of the mind, body, and soul.
- HarlowPrimarily gender-neutral, Harlow has a British origin. It means “from the rocky hill”. It pairs best with one, two, and three-syllable first names like Aria, Liam, Finn, Jean, Benjamin, or Jessica.
- HollandPrimarily gender-neutral, Holland has an American origin. It means “land on the ridge”. It’s also the name of the former province on the Western Coast of the Netherlands. Parents that love to travel there might name their child this to honor their favorite place. Or, maybe they conceived the baby there and want to honor that.
- HayesPrimarily unisex, Hayes has a British origin and means “lives by the forest/brush”. Most first names of any syllable will work with Hayes as a middle name.
- HenleyPrimarily unisex, Henley has an Old English origin. It means “high meadow”. It used to be primarily a boy’s name, but has been rising in popularity for baby girls. It pairs best with all syllable first names like Joan, Michael, Mila, Asher, Olivia, Alejandro, Leonidas, or Gabriella.
- HarlanWith Old English origins, Harlan means “hare land”. Most first names of any syllable will work with Harlan as a middle name, despite its meaning.
- Haneul Primarily gender-neutral, Haneul has a Korean origin. It means “sky, heaven”. Parents will love the name for its meaning. They may even feel like they’re in heaven because of how happy they are with the birth of their baby.
Boy Middle Names That Start With H
- HankFrom Old German origins, Hank means “ruler of the home”. The name pairs well with one, two, and three-syllable first names like Atticus, Johnathon, or Tom.
- Hamilton – With British origins, Hamilton means “flat-topped hill”. The name doesn’t have the most exciting meaning, but it does have a classic feel to it. It also pairs well with almost any first name you choose. Those who love the musical Alexander Hamilton might love this middle name.
- Hamish With Scottish origins, Hamish means “supplanter”. The name doesn’t exactly have a cute or sweet meaning, but most first names of any syllable will work with Harrison as a middle name.
- HaroldWith Scandinavian origins, Harlod means “army ruler”. Parents that picture their son as a leader or guide might opt for the middle name.
- HarrisonWith Old English origins, Harrison means “son of Harry”. Most first names of any syllable will work with Harrison as a middle name.
- HenryWith German origins, Henry means “home ruler”. Eight British kings and six French monarchs have shared the name. Parents that believe their son will rule their home or have sophistication will love the name.
- Huxley With Old English origins, Huxley means “Hugh’s meadow”. The name pairs well with one, two, and three-syllable first names without sounding harsh to say out loud.
- Howard With British origins, Howard means “noble watchman”. The name pairs best with one, two, and three-syllable first names like Ethan, Wade, Samuel, or Lewis.
- HoldenWith British origins, Holden means “deep valley”. The name doesn’t have a grand meaning, but most first names of any syllable will work with this middle name.
- HugoHugo has German, Spanish, Portuguese, and Latin origins. It’s a variant of Hugh. It shares the same meaning. The name pairs best with two and three-syllable first names.
- HughWith Latin origins, Hugh means “bright in mind and spirit”. Parents that wish to express these traits on their son might opt for the name.
- Hector With Greek origins, Hector means “steadfast”. The name comes from Greek mythology. Hector was a hero of the Trojan War known for his honor and bravery. It was also the name of a knight who raised King Arthur. Parents that picture their son as brave and of honor will love the middle name.
- HarveyWith French origins, Harvey means “battle warrior”. Parents that visualize their son as a fearless leader will love this name.
- Horace With Latin origins, Horace means “man of time”. The name pairs well with two and three-syllable names. One and four or more syllable names don't have that ring to it.
- HubertWith English origins, Hubert means “bright heart”. Parents that look at their child and feel their heart light up or wish to express a bright heart on their child might opt for the name.
- HansWith Scandinavian origins, Hans means “God is gracious”. Devout parents that feel God’s grace through the birth of their child will love this middle name.
- Horton With British origins, Horton means “gray settlement, from the farm on muddy soil”. It doesn’t have the best meaning behind it, but parents might choose to honor several characters from Dr. Seuss's books.
- Homer – With Greek origins, Homer means “pledge”. The name pairs best with two-syllable first names without sounding muddled. Fans of The Simpsons might like this middle name.
- HoytWith Old Norse origins, Hoyt means “spirit, soul”. The name pairs well with two, three, and four-syllable first names like Wyatt, Edwin, Anderson, and Zachariah.
- Horatio With Latin origins, Horatio means “timekeeper”. Parents that wish their child to be punctual might choose this name to reflect that.
- Heath With English origin, Heath means “land of heather and grass”. The name doesn’t have the best meaning, but it does pair well with two, three, and four-syllable first names.
- Hernando With Spanish origins, Hernando means “to be courageous”. Parents that want a name to express this trait on their son might opt for the name.
- HermanWith German origin, Herman means “soldier”. Parents may choose the name because of a soldier’s mentality. Soldiers are tough, brave, smart, and willing to protect others even when their life is at risk.
- HudsonWith English origin, Hudson means “son of Hudd, son of Hugh”. Hudd is a diminutive form of Richard, Hugh, or Hudde. The name pairs well with any syllable first name like John, Joseph, Alexander, and Jacoby.
- Hamza With Arabic origin, it means “lion”. Parents that want a name of bravery, strength, or fierceness will love Hamza.
- Holt With Old English origin, Holt means “woods, forest”. Most first names of any syllable will work with Holt as a middle name.
Girl Middle Names That Start With H
- HopeWith British origin, Hope means “expectation, belief”. In the Bible, it’s one of the three qualities described next to faith and charity. Parents that want a virtuous name or “hoped” for a girl may opt for the name.
- HayleyWith British origin, Hayley means “hay meadow”. Most first names of any syllable will work with Hayley as a middle name.
- HannahWith Hebrew origins, Hannah means “grace”. Parents that imagine their daughter as one who has grace will adore the name.
- Heaven With English origins, Heaven means “a place of eternal happiness”. Biblically, it’s God’s dwelling. Religious families will love to use Heaven as a middle name because of the Biblical references and meaning of the name.
- Helga With Scandinavian origin, Helga means “holy”. It’s the feminine form of Helge. Devout parents will love this name because it reflects their daughter as scared or dedicated to God.
- Helene With Greek origin, Helene means “shining light”. It’s a variant of the Greek names Eleanor and Helen. Parents that want to express their feelings about their daughter might opt for this name.
- HenriettaWith English origin, Henrietta means “ruler of the home”. It’s the feminine form of Henry. It pairs best with three and four-syllable first names like Penelope or Abigail.
- HelenWith Greek origin, Helen means “light”. It pairs best with two, three, and four-syllable first names like Janna, Evelyn, and Ariana.
- HelenaWith Greek origin, Helena means “light”. It’s a variant of Helen. Parents that see their daughter as the light of their lives or a guiding light will love this name.
- HollyWith Old English origins, Holly means “the holly tree”. Baby girls that were born near Christmas time were often given this name. Most first names of any syllable will work with Holly as a middle name.
- Hera With Greek origin, Hera means “protectress”. Parents that picture their daughter as someone who protects others will adore this name.
- Hitomi With Japanese origin, Hitomi means “pupil of the eye”. Parents who foresee their daughter as intelligent or want to express intelligence on her might choose this middle name.
- Hilde With French origin, Hilde means “battle”. Parents that want a fierce middle name for their daughter might opt for this middle name.
- Harmony With Greek origins, Harmony comes from Harmonia. It means “unity, concord”. In Greek mythology, Harmonia was the love child of Ares and Aphrodite. Harmonia had the power to unite people and was considered the goddess of happy marriages. Parents that ideate their daughter as a peacemaker or one who can bring others together peacefully will love this middle name.
- Huda With Arabic origin, Huda means “enlightenment, guidance”. Parents that picture their daughter as a person who guides others or reached spiritual knowledge will adore the name.
- Hita With Arabic origin, Hita means “prudence, caution”. Parents that imagine their daughter as someone who can use good judgement and reason might opt for the name.
- HeidiWith German origin, Heidi means “nobility”. The name pairs well with two-syllable first names.
- Hedia With Hebrew origins, Hedia means “echo of God”. Devout families will love this name because of the meaning behind it. They may feel their daughter will have a close relationship with Him and speak His word.
- HattieWith American origins, Hattie means “home-ruler”. Parents that visualize their daughter becoming the matriarch of the family might opt for this name.
- Hadia With Arabic origin, Hadia means “leader, guide”. Parents will love the name if they have been searching for a name with a strong name. Alternatively, if they imagine their daughter as a leader.
- Hide With Japanese origin, Hide means “excellent”. Parents that want to express excellence in their daughter might opt for the name.
- Haide With Spanish origin, Haide means “of noble kin”. It’s a variant of Heidi. It pairs best with two and three-syllable first names like Aurora, Rosemary, Elaine, or Zaniyah.
- Halle With Scandinavian origin, Halle means “heroine”. Parents looking for a middle name that represents strength or bravery will love the name.
- HeatherWith British origins, Heather means “evergreen flowering plant”. This plant thrives on barren lands. Parents might opt for the middle name to represent growth even when you don’t believe it’s possible.
- Helia With Greek origin, Helia means “the sun”. Parents will adore the name if they see their daughter as a bright, shining light on them or warms their heart.
Tips for Picking a Middle Name
Some parents forget to give their child's middle name enough time and consideration. They become so focused on picking a great first name that a middle name slides under their radar. Here are some tips to keep in mind when picking out a middle name for your bundle of joy!
Pick a middle name that flows well with the rest of your child's name. When you have a middle name that you're interested in, say it out loud with your baby's first and last name to see how it sounds. Does it flow together nicely, or does the name sound clunky? Considering the impact that syllables have on how a name flows is important.
A middle name gives you more creative freedom. When picking a first name, it's important to avoid going for something that's too unusual or hard to spell. A highly unusual name will inspire teasing from peers, and a name that's hard to spell will have your child struggling in school. Their middle name is a better place for complex names. Of course, make sure their first and middle names sound good together!
Don't worry too much about a middle name when you're still undecided on a first name. If you haven't picked a first name yet, then don't start worrying about a middle name! You won't be able to have a good idea what middle name you want for your child until you've settled on a good first name for them. Trying to pick two names at the same time will make your head spin! If you find a name that you'd like to consider as a middle name, write it down and come back to it after you've picked a good first name.
By following these tips, you'll have a great middle name picked out for your baby in no time at all! Take your time, and pick something that really feels right. This is an important decision! Feel free to check out our other articles on names to help you in your search.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Vasiuk Iryna/Shutterstock.com.