NamesPop

Heber

A boy's name of Hebrew origin with 3,131 recorded U.S. births.

Boy's name#3472 in 2024Rising fast

Meaning & Origin

A male given name from Biblical Hebrew.

Heber is a boy's baby name of Hebrew origin, from the Hebrew cheber meaning 'companion,' 'associate,' or 'one who crosses over' — related to the root abar ('to cross').

Heber appears in the Old Testament as a great-grandson of Noah and ancestor of the Hebrew people — some scholars link the name to the origin of 'Hebrew' itself. It's also a traditional name in the Mormon faith, carried by Heber C. Kimball and Heber J. Grant. A name of ancient depth and quiet dignity.

EtymologyShow more

Though Heber dates back to 1881 in U.S. records, its etymological path is not always straightforward. Names that predate modern naming databases sometimes resist easy classification — they may have been oral traditions, regional family names, or adaptations that were never systematically recorded. The Hebrew classification provides a starting point, but the full derivation likely involves more nuance than a single label can capture.

Heber’s 3,131 recorded births provide enough of a footprint to establish it as a real, chosen name in American culture — not a typo or a one-off, but a deliberate selection by hundreds of families.

At a Glance

#3472
Current Rank
3,131
Total births
Since 1881
2005
Peak year
81 births
Compare Heber with another name

Popularity Over Time

Heber was #2325 twenty years ago and has since drifted to #3472, but its charm endures.

0204161811900192019401960198020002024
First appeared: 1881Peak: 2005 (81 births)Current: #3472

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Heber
DecadeBirthsTrend
2020s154
2010s405
2000s585
1990s289
1980s182
1970s108
1960s90
1950s119
1940s125
1930s188
1920s356
1910s289
1900s66
1890s101
1880s74

The Story of Heber

A Gen Z name

Peaking in 2005, Heber is a name that defines a generation. Boys named Heber are most likely born between 1995 and 2015.

How rare is Heber?

Only about 1 in every 109,091 babies born in 2024 was named Heber — a truly uncommon choice.

The journey through the decades

First appeared in the records in 1881, grew steadily over the decades, peaked in the 2000s with 585 births that decade, and has gracefully settled into a quieter chapter.

Heber by the numbers

  • Would fill 65 school buses
  • Meeting one Heber per day would take 8.6 years

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(140 years, 18812024)
Year-by-year popularity data for the name Heber
YearBirthsRank
202433#3472
202329#3827
202241#3026
202128#3848
202023#4320
201928#3837
201830#3646
201733#3408
201624#4237
201538#3045
201437#3058
201344#2681
201260#2190
201147#2600
201064#2103
200958#2266
200866#2097
200761#2197
200669#1953
200581#1664

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Heber a boy's or girl's name?
Heber is primarily a boy's name.
When was Heber most popular?
Heber reached its peak popularity in 2005 with 81 births that year. It is currently ranked #3472 in the U.S.
How popular is the name Heber?
Heber is currently ranked #3472 in the U.S. (2024). It has been given to 3,131 babies since 1881.

Explore More

Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 18812024