The first name Herman

Herman last appeared in the official list in 2018, given to 3 boys. It peaked in 1996, with 4 births (#2,357).

Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Herman with other names.

In 2025, 58 boys born in the United States were named Herman, the 2,368th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 1921, when 3,219 were.

US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.

Spelled Herman in Danish, Dutch, Hungarian, Norwegian, Polish and Swedish too.

Nicknames for Herman

• Hermie

• Herman Melville
  American writer and poet (1819–1891)
• Herman Van Rompuy
  Belgian politician; former Prime Minister of Belgium and first permanent President of the , born 1947
• Herman Hollerith
  American statistician and inventor（1860-1929）
• Herman Boerhaave
  Dutch botanist, chemist, humanist, and physician (1668–1738)
• Herman Wouk
  American writer (1915-2019)
• Herman Cain
  American businessman (1945–2020)
• Władysław I Herman
  Duke of Poland (1043-1102)
• Hermann Sudermann
  German dramatist and novelist (1857–1928)
• Herman Li
  British guitarist, born 1976
• Herman Bang
  Danish writer (1857-1912)
• Herman Kahn
  American futurist noted for his views on nature of thermonuclear war (1922–1983)
• Herman J. Mankiewicz
  American screenwriter (1897-1953)

• Tyler
• Alfred
• Blake
• Grayson
• Stanley
• Tom
• Wyatt
• Miles
• Brandon
• Maxwell
• Landon
• Bradley
• Spencer
• Wesley
• Colton
• Hugh

All 216 names of English origin

What does the name Herman mean?

Herman means “army”, “man” in English.

What is the origin of the name Herman?

From Old English here (“army”) + man (“man”) It was revived in the 19th century, partly due to American immigrants from continental Europe where the name has been more popular. Compare the German equivalent Hermann.

How popular is the name Herman?

In 2018, 3 boys born in England and Wales were named Herman, ranking 4,749th. Its peak was 1996, with 4 births.

What are nicknames for Herman?

Common nicknames for Herman include Hermie.

Is Herman a boy's or a girl's name?

Mostly a boy's name: 99% of the 136,772 US babies named Herman since 1880 were boys.

When was Herman most popular?

1921 in the United States, when 3,219 babies were named Herman, its highest rank at 64th.

How do you pronounce Herman?

Herman is /ˈhɝmən/, 2 syllables.

Is Herman also a surname?

Yes. Herman is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.