Herb
Herb is a boy's name of Germanic origin.
Meaning
Bright army or famous warrior.
Origin and history
Herb is a short form of Herbert, derived from Germanic elements meaning brave or bright army. It was traditionally used as a standalone given name in the early to mid-20th century in the United States. Today, it is extremely rare for newborns, functioning mostly as a vintage diminutive.
Popularity in the United States
2,007 babies in the United States have been named Herb since 1880. It ranks #2875 all-time.
States where it is most popular
- CA (39.9 %)
- OH (12.8 %)
- IL (12.1 %)
- NY (8.6 %)
- MI (7.1 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 7 |
| 1890-1900 | 5 |
| 1900-1910 | 12 |
| 1910-1920 | 65 |
| 1920-1930 | 149 |
| 1930-1940 | 394 |
| 1940-1950 | 531 |
| 1950-1960 | 320 |
| 1960-1970 | 377 |
| 1970-1980 | 84 |
| 1980-1990 | 46 |
| 1990-2000 | 17 |
| 2000-2010 | 0 |
| 2010-2019 | 0 |
| 2020-2029 | 0 |
Famous people named Herb
- Herb Brooks: Ice Hockey Coach, Ice Hockey Player
- Herb Alpert: Musician, Record Executive
- Herb Herbstreit: American Football Player, Coach
Fun facts
- While originally a short form for Herbert, Herb was given as an official full name to over 2,000 U.S. boys since 1880.
- The name shares its spelling with the word for botanical herbs, which entered English via Old French from Latin.