How Many People Are Named Herman?

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

Herman
Uncommon
Old High German

Herman means 'army man' and has roots in Old High German. That's about 38,859 people in the US today, or 1 in 8,492 Americans. The majority, 89%, are over 60, making it a name of the older generation.

~39,217
Living in US
1 in 8,452
Americans
1921
Peak Year

📖 Meaning & Origin

💬
Meaning
Army man
🌐
Origin
Old High German
🔢
Numerology
Life Path 5
Personality Traits
Dependable Resilient
5
Life Path Number

It's believed that people with the life path number 5 are adaptable and adventurous.

🌍 Worldwide Usage

88,875
Worldwide Bearers
#1,504
Global Rank
🇲🇾 Malaysia
6,558
🇺🇬 Uganda
6,528
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia
5,245
🇨🇱 Chile
4,642
🇲🇿 Mozambique
4,320
🇨🇴 Colombia
4,096
🇨🇲 Cameroon
3,998
🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea
3,969
🇯🇲 Jamaica
3,880
🇰🇪 Kenya
3,543

⚥ Gender Distribution

♂ Male
38,586 (99%)
♀ Female
273 (1%)

📊 Births by Age Group

Avg Cohort Age: 91
2,572
Would be under 30 (2%)
12,209
Would be 30–60 (9%)
121,581
Would be over 60 (89%)

All 136,362 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: 1921

Annual US births from SSA records  ·  Trend: Declining

🏆 Name Scorecard

Popularity
99
Classic Feel
99
Modern Appeal
1
International
5

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

📜 Herman Through the Generations

Herman peaked in popularity in 1921 with 3,239 births, but its influence waned over the decades. Today, it's considered rare, with most of the 38,859 living bearers being over 60. This age skew paints a picture of a classic, old-school name that's been around for generations.

📍 State Distribution (Top 10)

New York 9,153
Texas 8,812
North Carolina 6,184
Pennsylvania 6,118
Louisiana 6,030
Georgia 5,780
Illinois 5,201
Virginia 4,968
Alabama 4,798
Ohio 4,404

🌿 Related Names by Origin

Other names sharing Herman's Old High German roots

📄 About the Name Herman

How Many People Have the Name Herman?

Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 39,217 people in the United States currently share the name Herman. That works out to roughly 1 in every 8,452 Americans, placing it in the Uncommon category.

Is Herman a Common or Rare Name?

Herman is classified as Uncommon. 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 Herman Mean?

Herman means "army man" and comes from Old High German origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 5.

Gender Breakdown

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

When Was Herman Most Popular?

The name Herman reached peak popularity in 1921, with 3,239 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 Herman?

Approximately 39,217 people named Herman live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 39,217. That works out to roughly 1 in 8,452 Americans.

Is Herman a rare name?

Herman is classified as Uncommon in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 8,452 Americans has this name.

What does the name Herman mean?

Herman means "army man" and comes from Old High German origins.

Is Herman more male or female?

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

When was Herman most popular?

Herman peaked in 1921 with 3,239 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 US39,217
All-Time Births39,217
1 in X1 in 8,452
RarityUncommon
GenderMale
Avg Age91
Peak Year1921
World Rank#1,504
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.