Herschel
Herschel was the 3399th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 34 babies. Its best year was 1901, when it ranked 281st; the most babies were born in 1921 (277). Over the last ten years it has moved up 522 places. More babies were named Herschel in the 1920s than in any other decade.
Meaning Not yet researched how we research meanings
- Rank in 2025
- #3,399 boys, down 358 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 34boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 1921277 babies
- Total since 1880
- 10,674babies recorded
Herschel popularity since 1880
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #3,399 | 34 |
| 2020 | #3,041 | 38 |
| 2010 | #7,788 | 10 |
| 2000 | #4,112 | 19 |
| 1990 | #1,712 | 47 |
| 1980 | #1,878 | 30 |
| 1970 | #1,211 | 47 |
| 1960 | #933 | 66 |
| 1950 | #645 | 116 |
| 1940 | #503 | 133 |
| 1930 | #456 | 171 |
| 1920 | #382 | 244 |
| 1910 | #377 | 47 |
| 1900 | #363 | 37 |
| 1890 | #419 | 19 |
| 1880 | #587 | 11 |
How popular is Herschel, counting every spelling?
Herschel has no other common spelling that sounds the same.
How many kids will share the name Herschel?
34 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Herschel (0.01 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Herschel born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 247 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Herschel.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Herschel?
About 3,400 people born in the US named Herschel are alive today, with a median age of 61; half are between 38 and 75. That makes Herschel a name most people associate with older generations. The wide spread shows a name popular in two different eras.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Herschel by state
How common Herschel was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. In 49 states fewer than five boys a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Herschel: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Herschel, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Herschel
How popular is the name Herschel?
Herschel was the 3399th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 34 babies. Its best year was 1901, when it ranked 281st; the most babies were born in 1921 (277). Over the last ten years it has moved up 522 places. More babies were named Herschel in the 1920s than in any other decade.
Is Herschel a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Herschel in the US.
Where is Herschel most popular?
In 2021–2025, Herschel was most common in Texas (0.01 per 1,000 boys), followed by California and California.