Herbert Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: HER-burt //ˈhɜːrbərt//
Origin: German; Old English
Meaning: Bright army; illustrious warrior
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Herbert has its roots in the Germanic elements "heri," meaning "army," and "berht," meaning "bright" or "famous." This etymological combination suggests a meaning akin to "bright army" or "famous warrior." The name was introduced to England by the Normans in the 11th century, following the Norman Conquest of 1066, and it was recorded in various forms such as "Herberht" in Old English texts. Over time, it evolved into the modern form "Herbert." Historically, the name Herbert has been borne by several notable figures, including Saint Herbert of Derwentwater, a 7th-century hermit and monk whose life was chronicled in hagiographies.
The name also appears in the context of English nobility, with several earls and barons bearing the name throughout the medieval period. One significant literary reference is found in the works of the English poet George Herbert, who lived in the 17th century and is known for his religious poetry, which contributed to the name's cultural resonance during the Renaissance.
The name Herbert has been associated with qualities of strength and brightness, reflecting its linguistic roots. In addition to its historical significance, the name has been embraced in various cultural contexts, often symbolizing nobility and valor.
The diminutive form "Herb" has also emerged, providing a more informal variant that retains the essence of the original name. Overall, Herbert's journey through history illustrates its enduring appeal and the rich tapestry of meanings associated with it.
Famous people named Herbert
In this section, you will find notable people named Herbert. 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 Herbert who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Herbert 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.
Herbert Hoover is a U.S. President best known for his term during the Great Depression and the Hoover Dam.
Herbert Marcuse is a philosopher best known for One-Dimensional Man, Eros and Civilization, and his influence on the New Left.
Fictional characters named Herbert
The following list of fictional characters named Herbert 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.
Herbert the Pervert is a fictional character from the animated TV series Family Guy. He is an elderly man known for his inappropriate behavior and obsession with young boys, particularly Chris Griffin.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Herbert, 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 Herbert. 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 Herbert was first seen in the United States in 1880.
Herbert has ranked as high as #50 nationally, which occurred in 1928, and has been most popular in New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Ohio, and Virginia.
In the past 5 years the name Herbert has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Herbert 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 Herbert was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Herbert (2024)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| CA | 7 | |
| TX | 5 |
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 Herbert.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 55 |
| 2023 | 67 |
| 2022 | 64 |
| 2021 | 53 |
| 2020 | 59 |
| 2019 | 54 |
| 2018 | 71 |
| 2017 | 77 |
| 2016 | 80 |
| 2015 | 79 |
| 2014 | 75 |
| 2013 | 79 |
| 2012 | 72 |
| 2011 | 81 |
| 2010 | 99 |
| 2009 | 94 |
| 2008 | 110 |
| 2007 | 104 |
| 2006 | 113 |
| 2005 | 118 |
| 2004 | 109 |
| 2003 | 120 |
| 2002 | 161 |
| 2001 | 148 |
| 2000 | 157 |
| 1999 | 151 |
| 1998 | 193 |
| 1997 | 195 |
| 1996 | 204 |
| 1995 | 217 |
| 1994 | 235 |
| 1993 | 273 |
| 1992 | 307 |
| 1991 | 285 |
| 1990 | 349 |
| 1989 | 350 |
| 1988 | 400 |
| 1987 | 349 |
| 1986 | 382 |
| 1985 | 430 |
| 1984 | 437 |
| 1983 | 481 |
| 1982 | 515 |
| 1981 | 551 |
| 1980 | 568 |
| 1979 | 617 |
| 1978 | 568 |
| 1977 | 587 |
| 1976 | 632 |
| 1975 | 671 |
| 1974 | 677 |
| 1973 | 707 |
| 1972 | 804 |
| 1971 | 951 |
| 1970 | 1,034 |
| 1969 | 1,008 |
| 1968 | 1,056 |
| 1967 | 1,152 |
| 1966 | 1,159 |
| 1965 | 1,380 |
| 1964 | 1,391 |
| 1963 | 1,505 |
| 1962 | 1,579 |
| 1961 | 1,688 |
| 1960 | 1,784 |
| 1959 | 1,843 |
| 1958 | 2,085 |
| 1957 | 2,279 |
| 1956 | 2,397 |
| 1955 | 2,504 |
| 1954 | 2,591 |
| 1953 | 2,616 |
| 1952 | 2,656 |
| 1951 | 2,704 |
| 1950 | 2,621 |
| 1949 | 2,731 |
| 1948 | 2,870 |
| 1947 | 2,857 |
| 1946 | 2,819 |
| 1945 | 2,664 |
| 1944 | 2,773 |
| 1943 | 3,043 |
| 1942 | 3,112 |
| 1941 | 2,964 |
| 1940 | 2,875 |
| 1939 | 3,097 |
| 1938 | 3,014 |
| 1937 | 3,040 |
| 1936 | 3,117 |
| 1935 | 3,436 |
| 1934 | 3,601 |
| 1933 | 3,685 |
| 1932 | 4,368 |
| 1931 | 4,788 |
| 1930 | 5,675 |
| 1929 | 7,881 |
| 1928 | 8,065 |
| 1927 | 5,017 |
| 1926 | 4,939 |
| 1925 | 4,924 |
| 1924 | 5,121 |
| 1923 | 5,071 |
| 1922 | 5,047 |
| 1921 | 5,217 |
| 1920 | 5,249 |
| 1919 | 4,960 |
| 1918 | 5,128 |
| 1917 | 4,745 |
| 1916 | 4,463 |
| 1915 | 4,341 |
| 1914 | 3,253 |
| 1913 | 2,723 |
| 1912 | 2,236 |
| 1911 | 1,125 |
| 1910 | 886 |
| 1909 | 831 |
| 1908 | 759 |
| 1907 | 710 |
| 1906 | 689 |
| 1905 | 681 |
| 1904 | 680 |
| 1903 | 668 |
| 1902 | 615 |
| 1901 | 573 |
| 1900 | 751 |
| 1899 | 590 |
| 1898 | 716 |
| 1897 | 565 |
| 1896 | 635 |
| 1895 | 569 |
| 1894 | 585 |
| 1893 | 519 |
| 1892 | 513 |
| 1891 | 501 |
| 1890 | 467 |
| 1889 | 472 |
| 1888 | 485 |
| 1887 | 445 |
| 1886 | 400 |
| 1885 | 388 |
| 1884 | 421 |
| 1883 | 422 |
| 1882 | 431 |
| 1881 | 369 |
| 1880 | 424 |