Given name & surname
Herb
“an illustrious warrior”
In English use, Herb is a short form of Herbert. One German interpretation is “an illustrious warrior.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
In English use, Herb is a short form of Herbert. One German interpretation is “an illustrious warrior.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
In English use, Herb is a short form of Herbert. An origin associated with Herbert is Germanic.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
In English use, Herb is used as a shortened form of Herbert.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1884. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Herb through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 2,007
- 2,007 boys · 0 girls
- Most popular year
- 1947
- 70 babies
- 2025
- 0
- Outside the ranked list
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- —
- Too few births to compare
By the numbers
The most recent published U.S. birth count for boys is 6 in 1993. Later missing counts do not mean the name went unused. Its largest published annual count for boys was 70 in 1947. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 3,705 as a first name in 2020; 3,108 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Herb’s family of names
In English usage, Herb is a diminutive of Herbert. Herb is a short form of Herbert. Herb has a related form in Herbert.
The ring: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 2
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
People named Herb
- Herb AlpertAmerican trumpeter and recording industry executive (born 1935)
- Herb ElliottAustralian middle distance runnerborn 1938
- Herb KohlAmerican politician (1935–2023)
- Herb McKenleyJamaican Sprinter (1922–2007)
- Herb EllisAmerican jazz guitarist (1921–2010)
- Herb JeffriesAmerican singer and actor (1913-2014)
- Herb DruryAmerican ice hockey player (1895-1965)
- Herb DouglasAmerican long jumper (1922–2023)
- Herb EdelmanAmerican actor (1933-1996)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Appears in
Similar names
If you love Herb, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Deane
“from the valley; a church official”
>99% boys
Hayward
“the guardian of the hedged area”
>99% boys
Fredric
“a peaceful ruler”
>99% boys
Harlon
“an athletic woman” · “from the army”
>99% boys
Rogers
Rogers is a surname.
>99% boys
Bill
“the determined protector” · “will”
>99% boys
Denny
“a follower of Dionysus” · “follower of Dionysus”
98% boys · 2% girls
Eusebio
“one who is devout”
>99% boys