Herald
Herald is a boy's name of Germanic origin.
Meaning
Army ruler or official messenger.
Origin and history
Herald originates from Old Germanic roots meaning 'army ruler' or 'commander', though it is also closely associated with the English vocabulary word for an official messenger or announcer. It has historically served as a rare alternative to the more common name Harold. In the United States, it has remained an uncommon given name throughout the 20th and 21st centuries.
Popularity in the United States
990 babies in the United States have been named Herald since 1880. It ranks #3692 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1921.
States where it is most popular
- WV (56.4 %)
- KY (17.9 %)
- IA (12.8 %)
- MO (12.8 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 33 |
| 1910-1920 | 167 |
| 1920-1930 | 276 |
| 1930-1940 | 194 |
| 1940-1950 | 116 |
| 1950-1960 | 88 |
| 1960-1970 | 67 |
| 1970-1980 | 15 |
| 1980-1990 | 16 |
| 1990-2000 | 12 |
| 2000-2010 | 0 |
| 2010-2019 | 0 |
| 2020-2029 | 6 |
Nicknames
Harry, Hal
Fun facts
- While etymologically related to Harold, Herald is often used as a distinct spelling variant reflecting the English word for a messenger.
- Despite its historical familiarity as a noun and surname, Herald has remained extremely rare as a first name in U.S. birth records.