Henrietta

Henrietta is a feminine given name of French origin, the feminine form of Henry. It derives from the Germanic name Heimirich or Heinrich, traditionally interpreted as “home ruler” or “ruler of the household.” Variants include Henriette in French and other languages, with English nicknames such as Hetty or Hettie.

The name has circulated in Europe and the Americas since at least the early modern period, gaining particular popularity in the 19th and early 20th centuries in some English-speaking countries. It remains in occasional use today, often chosen for family or historical reasons.

Notable people named Henrietta include Henrietta Lacks (1920–1951), whose cancer cells led to the HeLa cell line; and Henrietta Swan Leavitt (1868–1921), an American astronomer who discovered the relation between the luminosity and period of Cepheid variable stars. Henrietta Maria of France (1609–1669) was queen consort of England, Scotland, and Ireland as the wife of Charles I.

Geographically, several places are named Henrietta. For example, Henrietta, New York, is a town in Monroe County, and Henrietta, Texas, is a city in Clay County. Other uses exist in North America and beyond, reflecting the name’s historical reach.

In literature and media, Henrietta appears as a character name in various works, often signaling a genteel or traditional setting. The name remains a recognized part of the corpus of Western given names.