Herb Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: Hurb //hɜːrb//
Origin: German; English
Meaning: German: army; English: brave warrior
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Herb is derived from the Old High German name "Heribert," which is composed of the elements "heri," meaning "army," and "beraht," meaning "bright" or "famous." This name evolved through various linguistic stages, transitioning into Latin as "Heribertus" before being adopted into Old French as "Herbert." The name made its way into English during the Norman Conquest in the 11th century, where it was recorded in various forms, including "Herbert," which became more common in the medieval period. Historically, the name Herb has been borne by notable figures, such as Saint Herbert of Derwentwater, a 7th-century hermit and monk, whose life contributed to the name's religious significance.
The name Herbert was also popularized by various English nobility and was notably borne by Herbert of Bosham, a 12th-century scholar and translator. The name appears in the context of significant literary works, including Geoffrey Chaucer's "The Canterbury Tales" in the 14th century, where it reflects the cultural milieu of the time.
Culturally, the name Herb has been associated with strength and brightness, symbolizing a noble warrior or a person of renown. Its diminutive form, Herb, has been used informally, often as a friendly or familiar version of the name Herbert.
The name's enduring presence in literature and historical texts underscores its significance in various cultural contexts, reflecting themes of valor and distinction throughout the centuries.
Famous people named Herb
In this section, you will find notable people named Herb. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Herb who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Herb who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Herb Alpert is a musician and record executive best known for A&M Records, The Tijuana Brass, and his hit song "Rise.".
Herb Brooks is a hockey coach best known for leading the U.S. men's ice hockey team to victory in the 1980 Winter Olympics.
Herb Kelleher is a businessman best known for co-founding Southwest Airlines and his innovative approach to airline management.
Herb Ritts is a photographer best known for his iconic celebrity portraits and fashion photography.
Fictional characters named Herb
The following list of fictional characters named Herb is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Herb is a fictional character from the animated television series The Jetsons. He is George Jetson's best friend and often provides comic relief in the futuristic setting.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Herb, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Herb. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Herb was first seen in the United States in 1884.
Herb has ranked as high as #1831 nationally, which occurred in 1947, and has been most popular in California, Ohio, Illinois, New York, and Michigan.
In the past 5 years the name Herb has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Herb is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Herb was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Herb.
| Year | Total Births | Boy |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 6 | 6 |
| 1992 | 6 | 6 |
| 1991 | 5 | 5 |
| 1989 | 6 | 6 |
| 1988 | 6 | 6 |
| 1985 | 8 | 8 |
| 1984 | 6 | 6 |
| 1982 | 5 | 5 |
| 1981 | 6 | 6 |
| 1980 | 9 | 9 |
| 1977 | 7 | 7 |
| 1976 | 6 | 6 |
| 1975 | 7 | 7 |
| 1973 | 10 | 10 |
| 1972 | 13 | 13 |
| 1971 | 18 | 18 |
| 1970 | 23 | 23 |
| 1969 | 18 | 18 |
| 1968 | 19 | 19 |
| 1967 | 22 | 22 |
| 1966 | 18 | 18 |
| 1965 | 35 | 35 |
| 1964 | 44 | 44 |
| 1963 | 43 | 43 |
| 1962 | 55 | 55 |
| 1961 | 57 | 57 |
| 1960 | 66 | 66 |
| 1959 | 56 | 56 |
| 1958 | 62 | 62 |
| 1957 | 48 | 48 |
| 1956 | 28 | 28 |
| 1955 | 20 | 20 |
| 1954 | 15 | 15 |
| 1953 | 20 | 20 |
| 1952 | 19 | 19 |
| 1951 | 28 | 28 |
| 1950 | 24 | 24 |
| 1949 | 32 | 32 |
| 1948 | 42 | 42 |
| 1947 | 70 | 70 |
| 1946 | 59 | 59 |
| 1945 | 57 | 57 |
| 1944 | 51 | 51 |
| 1943 | 46 | 46 |
| 1942 | 65 | 65 |
| 1941 | 63 | 63 |
| 1940 | 46 | 46 |
| 1939 | 55 | 55 |
| 1938 | 47 | 47 |
| 1937 | 46 | 46 |
| 1936 | 42 | 42 |
| 1935 | 43 | 43 |
| 1934 | 34 | 34 |
| 1933 | 27 | 27 |
| 1932 | 28 | 28 |
| 1931 | 34 | 34 |
| 1930 | 38 | 38 |
| 1929 | 26 | 26 |
| 1928 | 30 | 30 |
| 1927 | 20 | 20 |
| 1926 | 18 | 18 |
| 1925 | 14 | 14 |
| 1924 | 13 | 13 |
| 1923 | 8 | 8 |
| 1921 | 9 | 9 |
| 1920 | 11 | 11 |
| 1919 | 7 | 7 |
| 1917 | 15 | 15 |
| 1916 | 11 | 11 |
| 1915 | 12 | 12 |
| 1914 | 7 | 7 |
| 1913 | 7 | 7 |
| 1912 | 6 | 6 |
| 1909 | 5 | 5 |
| 1908 | 7 | 7 |
| 1895 | 5 | 5 |
| 1884 | 7 | 7 |
Top States for Herb (1967)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| CA | 5 |