Herbert
Herbert is a boy's name of Germanic origin.
Meaning
Bright army or illustrious warrior.
Origin and history
Herbert is a classic masculine name of Germanic origin, derived from elements meaning 'bright army'. It was extremely popular in the United States during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, though its contemporary usage has become much more rare.
Popularity in the United States
228,266 babies in the United States have been named Herbert since 1880. It ranks #169 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1577.
States where it is most popular
- NY (11.5 %)
- PA (6.2 %)
- IL (4.9 %)
- OH (4.5 %)
- TX (4.5 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 4,257 |
| 1890-1900 | 5,660 |
| 1900-1910 | 6,957 |
| 1910-1920 | 33,860 |
| 1920-1930 | 56,531 |
| 1930-1940 | 37,821 |
| 1940-1950 | 28,710 |
| 1950-1960 | 24,298 |
| 1960-1970 | 13,701 |
| 1970-1980 | 7,248 |
| 1980-1990 | 4,463 |
| 1990-2000 | 2,409 |
| 2000-2010 | 1,234 |
| 2010-2019 | 767 |
| 2020-2029 | 350 |
Famous people named Herbert
- Herbert Hoover: President, Engineer
- Herbert Wells: Author, Historian
- Herbert Spencer: Philosopher, Sociologist
Nicknames
Herb, Herbie, Bert, Bertie
Fun facts
- The name was introduced to England by the Normans, replacing the Old English cognate Herebeorht.
- Herbert Hoover served as the 31st President of the United States from 1929 to 1933.