How to say it
HAT · tie
ˈhæt.i
Feminine
Hattie
Home-ruler
What it means
An English pet form of Harriet, the feminine of Henry, 'ruler of the home.'
Hattie is the cozy short for Harriet, which is the feminine of Henry, from Germanic roots meaning 'home' and 'ruler.' It was everywhere in the 1800s, faded, and is now back with the vintage-nickname revival beside Sadie, Millie, and Hallie. Hattie McDaniel made history as the first Black performer to win an Academy Award. It is warm, plucky, and old-fashioned in the best way.
How to spell Hattie
The standard spelling is Hattie. Common variants include Hatty, Harriet, Hattie, but Hattie is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #27 in 1880, currently #334 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Nickname
Short for Harriet; happily used on its own now.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Hattie McDaniel first African American to win an Academy Award
Spelling variants
- Hatty
- Harriet
- Hattie
Names with the same feeling
See Hattie from another angle
By meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Hattie mean?
- An English pet form of Harriet, the feminine of Henry, 'ruler of the home.'
- What does Hattie mean in English?
- In English, Hattie means "Home-ruler." Hattie is the cozy short for Harriet, which is the feminine of Henry, from Germanic roots meaning 'home' and 'ruler.' It was everywhere in the 1800s, faded, and is now back with the vintage-nickname revival beside Sadie, Millie, and Hallie. Hattie McDaniel made history as the first Black performer to win an Academy Award. It is warm, plucky, and old-fashioned in the best way.
- Is Hattie short for Harriet?
- Yes. Hattie is a short form of Harriet, and it carries the same meaning, "Home-ruler." These days many parents use Hattie as a given name in its own right, not only as a nickname.
- How do you pronounce Hattie?
- Hattie is pronounced ˈhæt.i. Say it as HAT-tie, with the stress on the "hat" syllable.
- How do you spell Hattie?
- The standard spelling is Hattie. Common spelling variants include Hatty, Harriet, Hattie.
- Is Hattie a boy or girl name?
- Hattie is traditionally a feminine name.
- How popular is the name Hattie?
- Hattie ranked #334 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.