Is Herman a boy's or girl's name?

Herman is primarily a boy's name. It is also used as a girl's name, with 795 recorded births.

When was Herman most popular?

Herman reached its peak popularity in 1921 with 3,219 births that year. It is currently ranked #2641 in the U.S.

How popular is the name Herman?

Herman is currently ranked #2641 in the U.S. (2024). It has been given to 135,914 babies since 1880.

Herman

An uncommon German pick — distinctive and rare.

Boy's name| Also girlsGermanDeclining Also a pet name

#2641▼ 314in 2024

Meaning & Origin

A male given name from the Germanic languages.

Herman is a boy's and girl's baby name of Germanic origin, from the Old High German Hariman, combining heri ('army') and man ('man'), meaning 'army man' or 'warrior.' It was introduced to England by German immigrants and found particular favor among German-American families.

Herman reached its U.S. peak around 1900–1920, borne by author Herman Melville and later by Herman Munster of TV fame. It carries a grandfatherly warmth that puts it firmly in the vintage revival conversation.

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Popularity Over Time

Herman was #1261 twenty years ago and has since drifted to #2641, but its charm endures.

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Herman
Decade	Births	Avg Rank	Trend
2020s	261	#2557	▼
2010s	749	#1950	▼
2000s	1,101	#1371	▼
1990s	1,957	#782	▼
1980s	3,124	#498	▼
1970s	4,761	#358	▼
1960s	8,359	#265	▼
1950s	13,833	#191	▼
1940s	16,856	#136	▼
1930s	20,319	#97	▼
1920s	29,011	#69	▲
1910s	22,598	#55	▲
1900s	5,064	#49	▲
1890s	4,232	#49	▲
1880s	3,689	#49	—

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(145 years, 1880–2024)

Year-by-year popularity data for the name Herman
Year	Births	Rank	Change
2024	50	#2641	-10 (-16.7%)
2023	60	#2327	+9 (17.6%)
2022	51	#2629	+6 (13.3%)
2021	45	#2789	-10 (-18.2%)
2020	55	#2401	-18 (-24.7%)
2019	73	#2007	+9 (14.1%)
2018	64	#2176	+9 (16.4%)
2017	55	#2360	-28 (-33.7%)
2016	83	#1819	-8 (-8.8%)
2015	91	#1708	+18 (24.7%)
2014	73	#1968	-7 (-8.8%)
2013	80	#1801	+15 (23.1%)
2012	65	#2096	-24 (-27.0%)
2011	89	#1678	+13 (17.1%)
2010	76	#1888	-18 (-19.1%)
2009	94	#1675	-7 (-6.9%)
2008	101	#1575	+6 (6.3%)
2007	95	#1627	-7 (-6.9%)
2006	102	#1493	-5 (-4.7%)
2005	107	#1391	-13 (-10.8%)

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

Herman as a Girl's Name

While overwhelmingly a boy's name, Herman has also been given to 795 girls in the U.S. since 1891.

Unranked

Current rank

795

Total births

1925

Peak year

Compare Herman as boy vs girl

Frequently Asked

Can Herman be used for both boys and girls?

Yes, Herman is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name, it currently ranks #2641. As a girl's name, it is not currently in the top rankings.

Herman has two lives

Herman, the baby name

#2641boys

135,914 babies

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Last updated May 2026 · Data: U.S. Social Security Administration (1880–2024) · Methodology