Heinrich

Heinrich is a masculine given name of German origin. It derives from the Old High German Heimrīh (often written as Heimerich), formed from heim 'home' and rih 'ruler', and is commonly interpreted as 'home ruler' or 'ruler of the home.' The name has been popular in German-speaking areas since the Middle Ages and has spawned cognates in other languages, such as Henry in English, Henrik in Danish, Norwegian and Swedish, Henrique in Portuguese and Spanish, and Henri in French. Diminutive forms include Heiner and Heini.

Throughout history, Heinrich has been borne by many notable figures, including members of nobility, clergy and scholars. The form has traveled with German influence and migration, becoming familiar in other parts of Europe and the world.

Notable individuals with the name include Heinrich Heine (1797–1856), German poet; Heinrich Hertz (1857–1894), physicist who established the theory and experiments on electromagnetic waves; Heinrich Schliemann (1822–1890), archaeologist who excavated Troy; Heinrich von Kleist (1777–1811), writer and dramatist; Heinrich Böll (1917–1985), writer and Nobel Prize laureate; and Heinrich Himmler (1900–1945), senior Nazi official. These figures illustrate the name’s long historical presence across science, literature, and public life.

Today, Heinrich remains common in Germany, Austria, and parts of Switzerland, though it is less frequent among younger generations. The name's international equivalents—Henry, Henrik, Henri—reflect its broad European heritage.