Herman
Boy name · #2363 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Herman? In official American birth records, Herman has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 58 baby boys were named Herman, placing it at #2363 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #1703, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 31,034 boys born in 2025 was named Herman.
The 145-year story
Herman first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 347 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1921, when 3,219 boys were named Herman — good for #64 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.
Babies named Herman per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Herman against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Herman in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Herman is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Herman will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Herman is most common
State-level data for Herman 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 Herman
Statistically, parents drawn to Herman tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Norman, Freeman, Marion, Weldon, and Hubert.
NormanFreemanMarionWeldonHubertVernonHerbertMilton
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Herman | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 58 | #2363 |
| 2024 | 50 | #2637 |
| 2023 | 60 | #2315 |
| 2022 | 51 | #2616 |
| 2021 | 46 | #2732 |
| 2020 | 56 | #2366 |
| 2019 | 73 | #2001 |
| 2018 | 64 | #2167 |
| 2017 | 56 | #2319 |
| 2016 | 83 | #1811 |
| 2015 | 91 | #1703 |
| 2014 | 73 | #1959 |
| 2013 | 80 | #1794 |
| 2012 | 65 | #2091 |
| 2011 | 89 | #1675 |
| 2010 | 76 | #1881 |
| 2009 | 94 | #1665 |
| 2008 | 101 | #1571 |
| 2007 | 95 | #1621 |
| 2006 | 102 | #1492 |
| 2005 | 109 | #1372 |
| 2004 | 120 | #1251 |
| 2003 | 117 | #1233 |
| 2002 | 115 | #1204 |
| 2001 | 121 | #1143 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Herman?
In official American birth records, the name Herman first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 347 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Herman a popular boy name?
Herman ranked #2363 among boys in 2025 with 58 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1703.
When was the name Herman most popular?
Herman peaked in 1921, when 3,219 American boys received the name (ranked #64 that year). Since 1921 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Herman?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 31,034 newborn American boys was named Herman. 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.