Where does “Hal” come from?

Hal is a diminutive form of Harry, which derives from Old French Henri, Frankish Haimrik, and Proto-Germanic Haimarīks, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European roots meaning home and rule.

Hal (English): A diminutive of the male given names Henry, Harold and Harry

Definitions

  1. A diminutive of the male given names Henry, Harold and Harry

Ancestry of “Hal”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishHarryThe drug heroin
2Old FrenchHenri
3LatinHenrīcus
4Old High GermanHaimirich
5Old High Germanrihhirich; empire, kingdom, realm
6Proto-West Germanicrīkīmighty, powerful; rich; kingdom, realm
7Proto-Germanicrīkijazkingly, royal, noble; mighty, powerful; rich
8Proto-Germanicrīksking, ruler
9Proto-Celticrīxsking
10Proto-Indo-Europeanh₃rḗǵsking, ruler
11Proto-Indo-Europeanh₃reǵ-to straighten, to right oneself; right; just
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₃reǵ-