Herman Boy

Popularity: #880 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: HER-muhn //ˈhɜːrmən//

Origin: German; Dutch

Meaning: German: army man; Dutch: warrior

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Herman has its roots in the Germanic languages, derived from the Old High German name "Hermann," which is composed of the elements "heri," meaning "army," and "man," meaning "man" or "warrior." This etymology reflects a martial connotation, suggesting a meaning akin to "warrior of the army." The name made its way into English through the Norman Conquest in the 11th century, where it was introduced as a result of the influence of Old French forms, which were derived from the same Germanic roots. Historically, the name Herman has been borne by various notable figures, including the 1st-century Roman general Arminius, known in German as Hermann, who famously led a coalition of Germanic tribes against the Romans in the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest in 9 AD.

This event is often viewed as a pivotal moment in the history of Germanic resistance against Roman expansion. Additionally, the name appears in various medieval texts and was borne by saints, contributing to its recognition in Christian contexts.

The name was also present in the works of early translators of the Bible, including the King James Bible in the early 17th century, where it may have appeared in various forms. Culturally, the name Herman has been associated with strength and valor, resonating with the ideals of chivalry and nobility in medieval Europe.

It has appeared in literature and folklore, often symbolizing a heroic figure or a leader. The name has various diminutive forms, such as Herm or Hermie, which have been used in different cultures, though these are less prominent in historical texts.

Overall, the name Herman carries a legacy of martial significance and cultural resonance that has allowed it to endure through centuries.

Famous people named Herman

In this section, you will find notable people named Herman. 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 Herman who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Herman 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.

Herman Melville is an author best known for Moby-Dick, Typee, and Billy Budd.

Herman Hesse is an author best known for Steppenwolf, Siddhartha, and The Glass Bead Game.

Herman Cain is a businessman best known for his role as CEO of Godfather's Pizza and his presidential campaign.

Herman Wouk is an author best known for The Caine Mutiny, Marjorie Morningstar, and Winds of War.

Herman Munster is a fictional character best known as the father in the television series The Munsters.

Fictional characters named Herman

The following list of fictional characters named Herman 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.

Herman Munster is a fictional character from the TV series The Munsters. He is the bumbling but lovable patriarch of the Munster family, known for his gentle nature and humorous antics.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Herman, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

HenryHaroldHugoHankHeathHarrison

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Herman. 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.

HectorHarrisHarlanHollisHendrickHollister

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Herman was first seen in the United States in 1880.

Herman has ranked as high as #154 nationally, which occurred in 1921, and has been most popular in New York, Texas, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Louisiana.

In the past 5 years the name Herman has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Herman 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 Herman 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 Herman.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 58 58 0
2024 50 50 0
2023 60 60 0
2022 51 51 0
2021 46 46 0
2020 56 56 0
2019 73 73 0
2018 64 64 0
2017 56 56 0
2016 83 83 0
2015 91 91 0
2014 73 73 0
2013 80 80 0
2012 65 65 0
2011 89 89 0
2010 76 76 0
2009 94 94 0
2008 101 101 0
2007 95 95 0
2006 102 102 0
2005 109 109 0
2004 120 120 0
2003 117 117 0
2002 115 115 0
2001 121 121 0
2000 129 129 0
1999 146 146 0
1998 151 151 0
1997 164 164 0
1996 184 184 0
1995 174 174 0
1994 191 191 0
1993 207 207 0
1992 219 219 0
1991 269 269 0
1990 252 252 0
1989 294 294 0
1988 277 277 0
1987 282 282 0
1986 276 276 0
1985 309 309 0
1984 277 277 0
1983 351 351 0
1982 361 361 0
1981 330 330 0
1980 373 367 6
1979 409 409 0
1978 387 382 5
1977 421 414 7
1976 440 435 5
1975 465 457 8
1974 454 454 0
1973 496 496 0
1972 550 550 0
1971 556 548 8
1970 623 616 7
1969 676 667 9
1968 675 664 11
1967 673 664 9
1966 759 753 6
1965 804 795 9
1964 923 914 9
1963 844 844 0
1962 999 999 0
1961 1,018 1,010 8
1960 1,061 1,050 11
1959 1,195 1,188 7
1958 1,224 1,212 12
1957 1,325 1,317 8
1956 1,332 1,326 6
1955 1,367 1,360 7
1954 1,426 1,416 10
1953 1,422 1,411 11
1952 1,508 1,497 11
1951 1,546 1,541 5
1950 1,574 1,564 10
1949 1,618 1,613 5
1948 1,849 1,837 12
1947 1,806 1,795 11
1946 1,600 1,590 10
1945 1,430 1,417 13
1944 1,647 1,641 6
1943 1,736 1,727 9
1942 1,797 1,787 10
1941 1,791 1,779 12
1940 1,683 1,670 13
1939 1,811 1,800 11
1938 1,905 1,900 5
1937 1,887 1,875 12
1936 1,822 1,816 6
1935 1,931 1,920 11
1934 2,031 2,011 20
1933 1,967 1,945 22
1932 2,202 2,191 11
1931 2,279 2,263 16
1930 2,624 2,598 26
1929 2,636 2,622 14
1928 2,611 2,588 23
1927 2,876 2,856 20
1926 2,816 2,798 18
1925 2,919 2,890 29
1924 2,969 2,954 15
1923 2,978 2,961 17
1922 3,032 3,014 18
1921 3,239 3,219 20
1920 3,129 3,109 20
1919 3,043 3,027 16
1918 3,056 3,041 15
1917 2,989 2,974 15
1916 3,065 3,043 22
1915 2,994 2,983 11
1914 2,444 2,430 14
1913 1,913 1,905 8
1912 1,657 1,646 11
1911 853 853 0
1910 702 696 6
1909 618 618 0
1908 569 562 7
1907 561 561 0
1906 502 502 0
1905 480 475 5
1904 497 497 0
1903 449 449 0
1902 462 457 5
1901 393 393 0
1900 550 550 0
1899 413 413 0
1898 467 467 0
1897 418 412 6
1896 427 427 0
1895 439 439 0
1894 433 433 0
1893 462 455 7
1892 421 421 0
1891 390 383 7
1890 382 382 0
1889 405 405 0
1888 403 403 0
1887 394 394 0
1886 418 418 0
1885 326 326 0
1884 385 385 0
1883 359 359 0
1882 348 348 0
1881 304 304 0
1880 347 347 0

Top States for Herman (2024)

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
TX 8
57%
NY 6
43%