Enrique

Meaning: Its source is Heimrich, an Ancient Germanic name meaning "Home leader."

Languages: This boy's name is used in Spanish.

Feminine Forms: Enriqua

Source Forms: Heimrich

Popularity: The name Enrique ranked 238th in popularity for males of all ages in a sample of 2000-2003 Social Security Administration statistics and 298th in popularity for males of all ages in a sample of the 1990 US Census.

Narrative: Among the Norman barons who conquered England in 1066 were a number named Henri, the French version of the Germanic name Heimrich.

Anglo-Saxon tongues could not easily negotiate the French nasalized ''en'' and the characteristic ''r,'' so during of the Middle Ages Henri was rendered as Harry in spoken English. The English spelling, however (following Latin and French), was Henry.

Over time, the name's spelling began to influence the way it was said. Eventually, Harry, once the primary English pronunciation of the name, joined ranks with Hank and Hal as one of Henry's nicknames.

Arts and Music

Enrique Granados (born 1867, died 1916)
Spanish nationalist composer.
- Wrote the Goyescas (see list of Romantic Composers)
Enrique Jorrín
Cuban violinist and bandleader.
- Created the cha-cha in 1948 (see list of Songwriters)

The Literary World

Enrique Rodríguez Larreta (born 1875, died 1961)
Argentine novelist.
- Wrote La gloria de Don Ramiro (''''The Glory of Don Ramiro'''') (see list of Prose Writers of the 20th Century)