Herbert
Boy name · #2641 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Herbert? In official American birth records, Herbert has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
Herbert ranks #2641 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 49 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #1853, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 36,735 boys born in 2025 was named Herbert.
Babies named Herbert per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 145-year story
Herbert first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 424 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1928, when 8,065 boys were named Herbert — good for #25 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Herbert against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Herbert in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Herbert is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Herbert will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Herbert is most common
State-level data for Herbert is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Herbert
Statistically, parents drawn to Herbert tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Hubert, Gilbert, Rupert, Earnest, and Herman.
HubertGilbertRupertEarnestHermanJohnnieBennieRudolph
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Herbert | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 49 | #2641 |
| 2024 | 56 | #2444 |
| 2023 | 68 | #2129 |
| 2022 | 65 | #2217 |
| 2021 | 53 | #2499 |
| 2020 | 59 | #2292 |
| 2019 | 54 | #2464 |
| 2018 | 71 | #2029 |
| 2017 | 77 | #1883 |
| 2016 | 80 | #1863 |
| 2015 | 79 | #1853 |
| 2014 | 75 | #1920 |
| 2013 | 79 | #1811 |
| 2012 | 72 | #1959 |
| 2011 | 81 | #1780 |
| 2010 | 99 | #1588 |
| 2009 | 94 | #1665 |
| 2008 | 110 | #1482 |
| 2007 | 104 | #1516 |
| 2006 | 113 | #1402 |
| 2005 | 118 | #1296 |
| 2004 | 109 | #1343 |
| 2003 | 120 | #1220 |
| 2002 | 161 | #976 |
| 2001 | 148 | #1010 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Herbert?
In official American birth records, the name Herbert first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 424 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Herbert a popular boy name?
Herbert ranked #2641 among boys in 2025 with 49 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1853.
When was the name Herbert most popular?
Herbert peaked in 1928, when 8,065 American boys received the name (ranked #25 that year). Since 1928 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Herbert?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 36,735 newborn American boys was named Herbert. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.