Herald, an uncommon yet distinguished given name of Germanic origin, translates to 'bear'. It was initially used as a surname, deriving from the Old German word 'heri', meaning 'army' or 'warrior'. The name gained prominence in medieval times due to its association with heraldry, the system by which coats of arms and badges are displayed. Today, it is still more frequently encountered as a surname than a first name.
Based on the provided statistics, the name Herald has had a variable yet consistently present occurrence in the United States over the past century and a half.
From the early 1900s to the late 1930s, there was a noticeable fluctuation in the number of babies named Herald each year. The highest point during this period was in 1926 with 38 births, while the lowest was in 1941 with only 8 births.
Thereafter, the name's popularity seemed to decline significantly until it reached an all-time low in the mid-1970s, with only 5 births each year from 1970 to 1972. This trend continued until the early 1980s when there was a slight resurgence, with 6 births in 1983.
The name Herald then maintained a consistent presence throughout the late 1980s and 1990s, with around 5 to 6 births per year. This trend has continued into the 21st century, as demonstrated by the most recent figure of 6 births in 2022.
In total, over this period, there have been 990 babies named Herald born in the United States. These statistics show that while Herald may not be one of the most popular names in the U.S., it has maintained a steady presence throughout history and continues to be chosen by parents for their children today.