Herman is a name of German origin, derived from the Germanic word "her" meaning "army" or "warrior", and "man" meaning "man". The name has been used since the Middle Ages and was popular among the Germanic tribes.
The name Herman was traditionally given to boys in honor of Saint Herman, a 7th-century Frankish bishop who was known for his courage and leadership. In Germany, the name Herman became particularly popular during the Middle Ages and was often associated with royalty and nobility. For example, Herman I was the first Duke of Swabia in the 10th century.
Over time, the name Herman has spread beyond its Germanic origins and is now used worldwide. It has also been adapted into various forms such as Hermann (German), Hermán (Spanish), and Erman (Turkish).
In literature and popular culture, some notable figures named Herman include Herman Melville, the American novelist who wrote "Moby-Dick", and Herman Bang, a Danish playwright and poet. The name Herman is also shared by various fictional characters, such as Herman Munster from the American sitcom "The Munsters".
Overall, Herman is a strong and historic name with deep roots in Germanic culture and history. It has been worn by many notable figures throughout history and continues to be used today as a meaningful and memorable name choice for boys.
The name Herman has been popular among parents in the United States for over a century. From 1880 to 2023, there have been a total of 135,856 births with the name Herman.
During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Herman was quite popular. In 1912, there were 1,646 births with this name, marking the highest point in popularity during this period. This trend continued into the following decades, with peaks in 1921 (3,219 births) and 1927 (2,856 births).
However, after the 1930s, there was a significant decline in the number of babies named Herman. By the 1940s, the number of annual births with this name had fallen to around 1,000 or fewer.
The trend continued downward through the mid-20th century. In the 1970s and 1980s, there were typically around 300-400 babies named Herman each year. This number fell further in the following decades, with only a few dozen babies receiving this name annually.
In recent years, Herman has become quite rare as a baby name in the United States. Between 2017 and 2022, there were only 55-60 births per year with this name. Despite its current lack of popularity, Herman remains an historic name with a rich tradition in America.