How Many People Are Named Herbert?

Complete statistics for the name Herbert: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.

Herbert
Rare
German

Herbert, a rare male name with German origins, stands out with just 1 in 5,262 Americans bearing it. That's around 62,718 people today, making it quite unique. The majority, 91%, are over 60, reflecting its status as an old-school classic.

~24,361
Living in US
1 in 13,606
Americans
1928
Peak Year

📖 Meaning & Origin

💬
Meaning
Home ruler
🌐
Origin
German
🔢
Numerology
Life Path 4
Personality Traits
Determined Reliable
4
Life Path Number

Traditionally, the life-path number 4 symbolizes stability, hard work, and practicality.

🌍 Worldwide Usage

69,902
Worldwide Bearers
#865
Global Rank
🇿🇦 South Africa
8,840
🇯🇲 Jamaica
6,374
🇬🇭 Ghana
6,012
🇵🇪 Peru
4,425
🇹🇿 Tanzania
4,179
🇳🇬 Nigeria
4,096
🇳🇱 Netherlands
4,062
🇸🇩 Sudan
2,578
🇰🇪 Kenya
2,461
🇿🇲 Zambia
1,987

⚥ Gender Distribution

♂ Male
62,341 (99%)
♀ Female
377 (1%)

📊 Births by Age Group

Avg Cohort Age: 91
2,838
Would be under 30 (1%)
18,060
Would be 30–60 (8%)
208,006
Would be over 60 (91%)

All 228,904 recorded US births for this name, grouped by the age those individuals would be today. Not adjusted for survival, so the number living today is lower (see the living estimate above).

📈 Popularity Over Time

Peak: 1928

Annual US births from SSA records  ·  Trend: Declining

🏆 Name Scorecard

Popularity
100
Classic Feel
94
Modern Appeal
6
International
5

Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency

📜 Herbert Through the Generations

Herbert peaked in popularity in 1928 with 8,113 births, marking a high point in its history. Today, the name's prevalence has declined, but it still resonates with many. With an average age of 91, Herbert is predominantly associated with older generations, with 2,838 under-30, 18,060 aged 30-60, and 208,006 over 60.

📍 State Distribution (Top 10)

New York 23,926
Pennsylvania 12,998
Illinois 10,126
Ohio 9,467
Texas 9,435
Virginia 7,926
North Carolina 7,767
California 7,547
New Jersey 6,668
Michigan 6,665

⭐ Famous People Named Herbert

Herbert is a Germanic given name, from harja- "army", "warrior" or "noble, sublime", and beraht "bright" or "shining". Other given names with the same roots include Heribert, Aribert and Eriberto.…

Full list on Wikipedia →

✨ Similar Names to Herbert

🌿 Related Names by Origin

Other names sharing Herbert's German roots

📄 About the Name Herbert

How Many People Have the Name Herbert?

Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 24,361 people in the United States currently share the name Herbert. That works out to roughly 1 in every 13,606 Americans, placing it in the Rare category.

Is Herbert a Common or Rare Name?

Herbert is classified as Rare. The rarity scale runs from Very Common (shared by millions) through Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Very Rare. Understanding where a name sits helps parents gauge uniqueness, genealogists narrow down records, and individuals settle debates about their own name's distinctiveness.

What Does the Name Herbert Mean?

Herbert means "home ruler" and comes from German origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 4.

Gender Breakdown

Of all recorded bearers of Herbert in SSA data, approximately 99% are male and 1% are female.

When Was Herbert Most Popular?

The name Herbert reached peak popularity in 1928, with 8,113 babies registered that year. Current trend: Declining.

How Is This Data Calculated?

All figures are statistical estimates, not exact government headcounts. The underlying data comes from the SSA National Baby Names dataset. Full methodology is explained on the methodology page.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

How many people are named Herbert?

Approximately 24,361 people named Herbert live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 24,361. That works out to roughly 1 in 13,606 Americans.

Is Herbert a rare name?

Herbert is classified as Rare in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 13,606 Americans has this name.

What does the name Herbert mean?

Herbert means "home ruler" and comes from German origins.

Is Herbert more male or female?

Based on SSA records, 99% of people named Herbert are male and 1% are female.

When was Herbert most popular?

Herbert peaked in 1928 with 8,113 births that year. Current trend: Declining.

How accurate are these statistics?

All figures are statistical estimates based on SSA birth records and age-adjusted modeling. See the methodology page for full details.

Disclaimer: All results are statistical estimates based on aggregated SSA birth records and modeling. Not exact counts of individuals. Data source: SSA National Baby Names dataset.
Quick Stats
Living in US24,361
All-Time Births24,361
1 in X1 in 13,606
RarityRare
GenderMale
Avg Age91
Peak Year1928
World Rank#865
Male %99%
Female %1%

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Data Source

Powered by the SSA National Baby Names dataset, birth registrations from 1880 to present.

All counts are statistical estimates. See the methodology page.