Hervé is a masculine given name of French origin, derived from the Germanic element Heribert, which is composed of heri 'army' and beraht 'bright'. It is associated with the Frankish royal house of the Carolingians, as Heribert was the father of Charlemagne's grandfather. In France, Hervé is often used in Brittany, where it has been popular for centuries. The name has also gained some usage in English-speaking countries, particularly in Canada and the United States, likely due to French immigration. It is commonly spelled without an accent in these regions.
The name Herve experienced significant popularity from 1914 to 1929 with peaks in 1918 (23 births) and 1921 (25 births), after which it declined gradually until the late 1970s. A slight resurgence occurred in 1980 (18 births), but overall, the name has remained relatively uncommon since then.