Herb is a short form of Herbert, derived from the Germanic elements 'hari' meaning army and 'bert' meaning bright, illustrious. This name has been used throughout history, notably by notable figures such as Herb Caen, an influential American newspaper columnist, and Herb Alpert, a successful jazz musician. It also shares its roots with other names like Harold, Henry, and Harry. The name Herb is often associated with plants, particularly the herbaceous ones, due to its phonetic similarity with the word 'herb'.
The name Herb experienced a notable increase in popularity between the late 1920s and early 1940s, peaking at 70 births in 1947. However, it has since declined significantly, with fewer than 10 births per year recorded from the mid-1970s onwards. The total number of births with the name Herb over this period is 2008.