Herman
Herman: name meaning, origin and popularity
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈhɜːmən/ · /ˈhɝmən/
Meaning and origin of Herman
Root meaning: “army”
- A male given name from the Germanic languages.
Etymology
From Old English here (“army”) + man (“man”) It was revived in the 19th century, partly due to American immigrants from continental Europe where the name has been more popular. Compare the German equivalent Hermann.
How popular is Herman?
Since 1880, 795 girls and 135,977 boys in the U.S. have been named Herman (1% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #1143 in 1891. Its highest rank for boys was #44 in 1886. In 2025, 58 babies were given the name, outside the top 1,000.
Names similar to Herman
Names that start with the same letters, most popular first.
More Germanic boy names
Sibling name ideas for Herman
Sister and brother names that share Herman's Germanic roots and are still in the U.S. top 1,000.
Herman FAQ
What does the name Herman mean?
Herman traces back to a root meaning "army". A male given name from the Germanic languages. From Old English here (“army”) + man (“man”) It was revived in the 19th century, partly due to American immigrants from continental Europe where the name has been more popular. Compare the German equivalent Hermann.
What is the origin of the name Herman?
Herman is listed as a name of Germanic origin.
How popular is the name Herman?
Since 1880, 795 girls and 135,977 boys in the U.S. have been named Herman (1% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #1143 in 1891. Its highest rank for boys was #44 in 1886. In 2025, 58 babies were given the name, outside the top 1,000.
Is Herman a boy or girl name?
Herman is mostly a boy name in the U.S.: 795 girls and 135,977 boys since 1880.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880–2025 (names given to 5+ babies per year). Origin and etymology text: Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.