The name Harry is derived from the Germanic name Harinric, which is composed of the elements "hari" meaning army or warrior, and "ric" meaning power or ruler. The name first appeared in the 8th century and was widespread among the Franks and Norsemen.

The name gained popularity in England after the Norman Conquest of 1066, as it was introduced by the Norman nobility. One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was Henry I of England, who reigned from 1100 to 1135 and was known as Harry le Gros (Harry the Fat).

In the Middle Ages, the name Harry was often used as a shortened form of the name Henry, which was derived from the Germanic name Heimrich. This name was borne by several English kings, including Henry II (1133-1189), Henry III (1207-1272), and Henry V (1387-1422), who was immortalized in Shakespeare's play of the same name.

During the Renaissance, the name Harry became more widely used as an independent given name. One notable bearer was Harry Hotspur (1364-1403), an English knight and military commander who fought in the Battle of Shrewsbury during the Wars of the Roses.

In the 17th century, the name Harry was associated with the House of Stuart, as it was the nickname of King Henry IV of France (1553-1610) and his son, King Henry IX (1594-1612), who were descendants of the Stuart monarchs of Scotland.

Other famous Harrys throughout history include Harry Houdini (1874-1926), the legendary Hungarian-American illusionist and escape artist; Harry S. Truman (1884-1972), the 33rd President of the United States; and Sir Harry Lauder (1870-1950), a Scottish singer and comedian who was a popular music hall performer in the early 20th century.