Herb Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Herb originates from the Old French name Herbert, which means 'bright army'. It has evolved through various forms including Heribert and Herbert before becoming Herb in modern English. The name is often associated with traits of friendliness and approachability. There is no significant biblical background associated with the name, and it gained popularity in the mid-20th century. Common variants include Herbert and Herbie.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Herb"
Pronunciation
/hɜːrb/
Origin
Old French, Latin
Etymology
The name Herb is derived from the Old French name 'Herbert', which is composed of the Germanic elements 'heri' meaning 'army' and 'berht' meaning 'bright' or 'famous'.
Meaning
bright army
Language Evolution
Heribert (Old High German), Herbert (Old French), Herb (Modern English)
Historical Usage
The name Herb gained popularity in the United States during the early 20th century, particularly after World War II, as a diminutive of Herbert.
Variants & Derivatives
Herbert, Herbie
Modern Popularity & Image
The name Herb is viewed as traditional and is often associated with a friendly and approachable demeanor.
Famous People
Herb Alpert, Herb Brooks, Herb Adderley
📊 Herb Name Trend Analysis
Boy Name Trend
Recent 3-Year Analysis
Explore More Herb Name Visualizations
✨ Herb Name Meaning & Significance
Popularity Trend
Less Common name with 70 peak births in 1947
Geographic Spread
Popular across 12 US states, with strongest presence in California
Historical Span
Data spanning 145 years from 1880 to 2024, showing long-term trends
Generational Impact
Influenced 5 different American generations with varying popularity
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Herb"
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 "Herb"
"Herb" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 2501st of 7545 | 170 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 991st of 6773 | 778 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 1175th of 7552 | 789 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 2784th of 10718 | 205 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 8236th of 16616 | 54 |
Regional Popularity of "Herb" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
41.59% 643rd/1546 |
58.16% 905th/1556 |
- |
38.85% 601st/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
42.75% 952nd/2227 |
49.30% 1198th/2430 |
68.91% 1966th/2853 |
31.35% 870th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - |
60.78% 2458th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Herb" 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 "Herb"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Herb" 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.
Comprehensive Regional & Generational Popularity Trends of "Herb" in the United States
The name Herb is most popular in California, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Silent Generation generation in the West 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, Herb has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Herb' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 2501st out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 991st out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 1175th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 2784th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 8236th out of 16616 names. Discover how the name 'Herb' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.