Herschel Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Herschel is a name of Hebrew origin meaning 'deer'. It evolved from 'Hirsch' in Hebrew to 'Herschel' in Yiddish and later in English. The name has been associated with notable individuals, particularly in the fields of science and sports, and carries a traditional yet unique perception in modern times. It does not have biblical relevance.
The name Herschel is most popular in Indiana, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the G.I. Generation generation in the MidWest 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, Herschel 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, 'Herschel' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 381st out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 487th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 736th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 1326th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 1958th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 5178th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 4034th out of 23106 names. Discover how the name 'Herschel' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Herschel"
Pronunciation
/ˈhɜrʃəl/
Origin
Hebrew
Etymology
The name Herschel is derived from the Hebrew name 'Hirsch', which means 'deer'. It is often associated with the Yiddish language, where it became popular among Jewish communities.
Meaning
deer
Language Evolution
Hirsch (Hebrew), Herschel (Yiddish), Herschel (English)
Historical Usage
The name Herschel gained popularity in the 18th and 19th centuries, particularly among Jewish families in Europe and later in the United States, often due to the influence of notable figures such as the astronomer William Herschel.
Variants & Derivatives
Hirsch, Hersh, Hershie
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, the name Herschel is viewed as traditional yet unique, often associated with intellectualism and creativity, particularly due to its historical ties to prominent figures in science and the arts.
Famous People
William Herschel (astronomer), Herschel Walker (former professional football player and politician)
Explore More Herschel Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Herschel"
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 "Herschel"
"Herschel" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 381st of 7545 | 3,892 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 487th of 6773 | 2,628 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 736th of 7552 | 1,883 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 1326th of 10718 | 659 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 1958th of 16616 | 569 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 5178th of 24088 | 248 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 4034th of 23106 | 312 |
Regional Popularity of "Herschel" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
19.49% 276th/1416 |
67.37% 929th/1379 |
14.20% 336th/2366 |
70.05% 800th/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
23.67% 366th/1546 |
62.85% 978th/1556 |
18.53% 436th/2353 |
62.51% 967th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
26.40% 588th/2227 |
47.65% 1158th/2430 |
23.13% 660th/2853 |
33.48% 929th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
39.60% 1163rd/2937 |
52.74% 1837th/3483 |
36.84% 1296th/3518 |
42.21% 1707th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
60.14% 2216th/3685 |
57.01% 2551st/4475 |
42.66% 2216th/5194 |
45.80% 2893rd/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- |
71.90% 3713th/5164 |
68.67% 5022nd/7313 |
63.81% 4762nd/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- |
83.98% 3768th/4487 |
69.39% 4734th/6822 |
65.98% 4141st/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Herschel" 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 "Herschel"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Herschel" 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.