UK boy's name
Henning
The masculine given name of Germanic origin meaning "estate ruler.".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2013. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Henning is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Henning popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2013 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4685, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2003, with 3 births.
This profile covers 9 England and Wales registrations across 3 recorded years from 2003 to 2013. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 9 living people in the UK are called Henning. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2014 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Henning ranked #4685 for boys in England and Wales in 2013, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2003, when 3 boys were registered as Henning.
- • About 9 living people in the UK are estimated to have Henning as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4685
2013
Births in 2013
3
Latest year
Peak year
2003
3 births
Estimated living
9
2026
Meaning
What does Henning mean?
The name Henning has its roots in the Germanic languages and is derived from the Old German word "Hagen", which means "enclosure" or "hedge". It is believed to have originated as a surname in the Middle Ages, referring to someone who lived near or worked with enclosures or hedges.
The name gained popularity in Scandinavia, particularly in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, where it was adopted as a given name. In these regions, the name may have been influenced by the Old Norse word "henning", which means "descendant" or "offspring".
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Henning can be found in the ancient Icelandic sagas, where it was used to refer to characters from the Viking era. For example, in the Saga of the Faroe Islanders, there is mention of a character named Henning Kalvsson, who lived in the 10th century.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Henning. One of the most famous was Henning Arnisaeus (1575-1636), a Danish theologian and academic who served as the Chancellor of the University of Copenhagen.
Another prominent figure was Henning Carlsen (1879-1953), a Norwegian explorer and writer who participated in several expeditions to the Arctic regions and wrote extensively about his experiences.
In the world of literature, Henning Mankell (1948-2015) was a renowned Swedish crime writer and playwright, best known for his Kurt Wallander series of detective novels.
In the realm of sports, Henning Solberg (born 1973) is a Norwegian rally driver who has competed in the World Rally Championship and achieved several notable wins throughout his career.
Another notable individual was Henning Rudolf (1886-1973), a German architect and urban planner who played a significant role in the reconstruction of Berlin after World War II.
These are just a few examples of the many individuals throughout history who have borne the name Henning, contributing to various fields such as academia, exploration, literature, sports, and architecture.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Henning over time
The chart below shows babies named Henning registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2003 to 2013. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Henning, the clearest high point is 2003. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2013, compared with 3 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Henning by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Henning was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #4685 | 3 | 1 |
| 2000s | #3950 | 6 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Henning
- Harry 141,693
- Henry 65,177
- Harrison 45,958
- Harvey 35,648
- Harley 22,095
- Hugo 18,779
- Hayden 12,622
- Hunter 10,350
- Hudson 9,104
- Hamza 8,564
- Hassan 5,982
- Hasan 3,599
FAQ
Henning: questions and answers
How popular is the name Henning in the UK right now?
In 2013, Henning was ranked #4685 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Henning most popular?
The peak year on record was 2003, with 3 babies registered as Henning in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Henning?
The masculine given name of Germanic origin meaning "estate ruler.".
How many people are called Henning in the UK?
A total of 9 babies have been registered as Henning across the 3 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.