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Name Lineage

    The first name Humphrey

    A boy’s name meaning “to grant”, “bestow”, “peace”.

    Pronounced /ˈhʌmfɹi/ 2 syllables Male Also a surname

    Meaning and origin

    Humphrey means “to grant”, “bestow”, “peace”.

    Name of a 9th-century French saint, brought to England by Normans; Proto-Germanic *unnaną (“to grant, bestow”) + *friþuz (“peace”). In Ireland it has been used to Anglicize Irish Amhlaoibh (= Olaf).

    More names that mean peace.

    From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

    Popularity

    Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

    In 2025, 13 boys were named Humphrey, making it the 1,897th most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 2015, with 29 births (#996).

    01530 1996200020052010201520202025
    371
    babies named Humphrey, 1996–2025
    #1,897
    rank in 2025
    2015
    peak year

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

    Popularity in the United States

    Babies named Humphrey at birth, 1880–2025

    In 2024, 8 boys born in the United States were named Humphrey, the 9,328th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 1924, when 22 were.

    01530 188018851890189519001905191019151920192519301935194019451950195519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025
    1,085
    babies named Humphrey since 1880
    #9,328
    rank in 2024
    1924
    peak year

    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.

    Nicknames and spellings

    Nicknames for Humphrey

    • Huffie
    • Humph
    • Numps

    Famous people named Humphrey

    24 on Wikidata, most written-about first

    • Humphrey Bogart
      American actor (1899–1957)
    • Humphrey Gilbert
      English explorer, politician and soldier (1539-1583)
    • Humphrey Carpenter
      British writer and broadcaster (1946–2005)
    • Humphrey of Lancaster, 1st Duke of Gloucester
      15th-century English nobleman (1390-1447)
    • Humphrey Stafford, 1st Duke of Buckingham
      British noble (1402-1460)
    • Humphrey Searle
      English composer (1915–1982)
    • Thomas Humphrey Marshall
      British sociologist (1893-1981)
    • Humphrey Campbell
      Dutch singer (1958–2024)
    • Humphrey Mijnals
      Dutch-Surinamese footballer (1930-2019)
    • Humphrey Marshall
      American politician (1760–1841)
    • Humphrey de Bohun, 4th Earl of Hereford
      Anglo-Norman nobleman, 1276–1322
    • Humphrey Lyttelton
      English jazz trumpeter (1921–2008)

    Questions

    What does the name Humphrey mean?
    Humphrey means “to grant”, “bestow”, “peace”.
    How popular is the name Humphrey?
    In 2025, 13 boys born in England and Wales were named Humphrey, ranking 1,897th. Its peak was 2015, with 29 births.
    What are nicknames for Humphrey?
    Common nicknames for Humphrey include Huffie, Humph, Numps.
    Is Humphrey a boy's or a girl's name?
    Mostly a boy's name: 100% of the 1,085 US babies named Humphrey since 1880 were boys.
    When was Humphrey most popular?
    1924 in the United States, when 22 babies were named Humphrey, its highest rank at 1,701st.
    How do you pronounce Humphrey?
    Humphrey is /ˈhʌmfɹi/, 2 syllables.
    Is Humphrey also a surname?
    Yes. Humphrey is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.