Given name
Hershell
“resembling a deer”
Hershell is a variant of Herschelle. In Hebrew use, Herschelle carries the interpretation “resembling a deer.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Hershell is a variant of Herschelle. In Hebrew use, Herschelle carries the interpretation “resembling a deer.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Hershell connects to the Hirsh name family through Herschelle. An origin associated with Hirsh is Yiddish.
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1899. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Hershell through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 1,847
- 1,847 boys · 0 girls
- Most popular year
- 1920
- 45 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 5 in 1994. Later missing counts do not mean the name went unused. Its largest published annual count for boys was 45 in 1920. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 658 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Hershell’s family of names
Hershell has a related form in Herschelle.
Inner ring: spellings · outer: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 1
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Appears in
Similar names
If you love Hershell, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Herschel
“resembling a deer”
>99% boys
Hershel
“resembling a deer”
>99% boys
Horace
“the keeper of time”
>99% boys
Herman
“a soldier”
>99% boys
Homer
“a tomboyish woman” · “of the pledge; an epic poet”
>99% boys
Russel
“a little red-haired boy”
>99% boys
Harden
“from the hare's valley”
>99% boys
Harmon
“a soldier”
91% boys · 9% girls