Hershel
Hershel was the 2692nd most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 48 babies. Its best year was 1932, when it ranked 391st; the most babies were born in 1924 (226). Over the last ten years it has moved down 153 places. More babies were named Hershel in the 1920s than in any other decade.
Meaning Not yet researched how we research meanings
- Rank in 2025
- #2,692 boys, up 350 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 48boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 1924226 babies
- Total since 1880
- 10,334babies recorded
Hershel popularity since 1880
A few girls are given the name too: 5 since 1918.
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #2,692 | 48 |
| 2020 | #3,042 | 38 |
| 2010 | #3,568 | 30 |
| 2000 | #2,831 | 32 |
| 1990 | #2,650 | 25 |
| 1980 | #1,879 | 30 |
| 1970 | #1,230 | 46 |
| 1960 | #969 | 62 |
| 1950 | #660 | 113 |
| 1940 | #466 | 154 |
| 1930 | #416 | 200 |
| 1920 | #432 | 194 |
| 1910 | #574 | 25 |
| 1900 | #712 | 13 |
| 1890 | #1,068 | 5 |
| 1880 | #976 | 5 |
How popular is Hershel, counting every spelling?
Hershel has no other common spelling that sounds the same.
How many kids will share the name Hershel?
48 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Hershel (0.01 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Hershel 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 175 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Hershel.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Hershel?
About 3,900 people born in the US named Hershel are alive today, with a median age of 57; half are between 26 and 74. That makes Hershel 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.
Hershel by state
How common Hershel was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in New York (13.8×). In 50 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 Hershel: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Hershel, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Hershel
How popular is the name Hershel?
Hershel was the 2692nd most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 48 babies. Its best year was 1932, when it ranked 391st; the most babies were born in 1924 (226). Over the last ten years it has moved down 153 places. More babies were named Hershel in the 1920s than in any other decade.
Is Hershel a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Hershel in the US.
Where is Hershel most popular?
In 2021–2025, Hershel was most common in New York (0.36 per 1,000 boys).