Herold Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Herold is an Old English name meaning 'ruler of the army' or 'commander'. It has evolved from Old English to Modern English, retaining its original meaning. The name has historical significance as a title for messengers in medieval times. While it is less common today, it is associated with traits of leadership and authority. There is no biblical background related to the name.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Herold"
Pronunciation
/ˈhɛr.əld/
Origin
Old English
Etymology
The name Herold is derived from the Old English elements 'here' meaning 'army' and 'weald' meaning 'to rule' or 'power'. Thus, it can be interpreted as 'ruler of the army' or 'commander'.
Meaning
Ruler of the army, commander
Language Evolution
Herold (Old English), Herald (Middle English), Herold (Modern English)
Historical Usage
The name gained popularity in medieval times as a title for those who were messengers or bearers of news, often associated with nobility and important events.
Variants & Derivatives
Harold, Heraldo, Herald
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, the name Herold is less common than its variant Harold, which remains more popular. It is often perceived as an old-fashioned name.
Famous People
Herold of Saxe, Herold the Herald
📊 Herold Name Trend Analysis
Boy Name Trend
Recent 3-Year Analysis
Explore More Herold Name Visualizations
✨ Herold Name Meaning & Significance
Popularity Trend
Less Common name with 26 peak births in 1923
Geographic Spread
Popular across 1 US states, with strongest presence in West Virginia
Historical Span
Data spanning 145 years from 1880 to 2024, showing long-term trends
Generational Impact
Influenced 6 different American generations with varying popularity
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Herold"
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 "Herold"
"Herold" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 1847th of 7545 | 284 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 2213th of 6773 | 209 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 3964th of 7552 | 72 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 8050th of 10718 | 17 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 11609th of 16616 | 21 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 20994th of 24088 | 10 |
Regional Popularity of "Herold" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - |
95.07% 2237th/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 "Herold" 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 "Herold"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Herold" 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 "Herold" in the United States
The name Herold is most popular in West Virginia, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Silent 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, Herold has been stalled for male in South. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in South. Across generations, 'Herold' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 1847th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 2213th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 3964th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 8050th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 11609th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 20994th out of 24088 names. Discover how the name 'Herold' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.