Herald Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Herald originates from Old English, signifying 'army ruler'. It evolved through several forms in different languages, highlighting its historical roots in leadership and proclamation. The name does not have biblical significance, but it gained popularity during the Middle Ages in England. Today, it is viewed as traditional, with variants like Harold and Heraldo reflecting its enduring legacy.
The name Herald is most popular in West Virginia, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the G.I. Generation generation in the South region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Herald has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in South. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in South. Across generations, 'Herald' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 1410th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 1749th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 2653rd out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 6435th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 11418th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 22675th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 21740th out of 23106 names. Discover how the name 'Herald' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Herald"
Pronunciation
/ˈhɛr.əld/
Origin
Old English
Etymology
The name Herald comes from the Old English word 'herewalt', which is composed of the elements 'here', meaning 'army', and 'wald', meaning 'ruler' or 'power'.
Meaning
Army ruler
Language Evolution
Herewalt (Old English), Heraldus (Latin), Heraldo (Old French), Herald (Modern English)
Historical Usage
The name Herald has been used since the Middle Ages, particularly in England, where it was associated with the role of a messenger or proclaimer of news, especially in the context of royal announcements.
Variants & Derivatives
Harold, Heraldo, Heraldo
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, the name Herald is less common but is perceived as traditional and carries connotations of leadership and authority.
Famous People
Herald of Rivia (a fictional character from the Witcher series), Herald H. M. W. V. H. A. H. C. W. R. (fictional character from various stories)
Explore More Herald Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Herald"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Herald"
"Herald" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 1410th of 7545 | 425 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 1749th of 6773 | 309 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 2653rd of 7552 | 182 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 6435th of 10718 | 35 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 11418th of 16616 | 22 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 22675th of 24088 | 6 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 21740th of 23106 | 6 |
Regional Popularity of "Herald" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
83.05% 1176th/1416 |
- |
73.42% 1737th/2366 |
- |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
73.67% 1139th/1546 |
- |
82.83% 1949th/2353 |
- |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Herald" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Herald"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Herald" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.