Baby Names US
boys' name ★ peaked 1947

Herb

Meaning A diminutive of the male given name Herbert Gender Boy Rank 2025 Below top lists

A diminutive of the male given name Herbert.

Rank 2025
–
among boys
Babies in 2025
<5
named Herb
How common
–
boys born in 2025
Peak year
1947
70 babies
All-time total
2,007
#3,296 all-time among boys
First recorded
1884
in Social Security records

Herb popularity over time

2,007 babies have been named Herb since 1884, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure
Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras
0.020.040.060.0818801900192019401960198020002020Peak 1884Boys

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade Boys Per year Change Best rank
1880s 7 1 – #810
1890s 5 1 -29% #1,160
1900s 12 1 +140% #1,153
1910s 65 7 +442% #2,035
1920s 149 15 +129% #1,338
1930s 394 39 +164% #822
1940s 531 53 +35% #791
1950s 320 32 -40% #965
1960s 377 38 +18% #932
1970s 84 8 -78% #1,870
1980s 46 5 -45% #4,274
1990s 17 2 -63% #7,820
2000s – – – –
2010s – – – –
2020s (to 2025) – – – –

The story of Herb

Herb is not currently in use for newborns in the United States: fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.

Since 1884, 2,007 American babies have been named Herb. Its peak came in 1947, when 70 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1940s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Herb stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Herb?

The median living Herb is about 67 years old; half are between 61 and 78. An estimated 1,000 people named Herb are alive in the United States today.

median 67 020406080100

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Herb year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year Boys Boys rank
2025 – –
2024 – –
2023 – –
2022 – –
2021 – –
2020 – –
2019 – –
2018 – –
2017 – –
2016 – –
2015 – –
2014 – –
2013 – –
2012 – –
2011 – –
2010 – –
2009 – –
2008 – –
2007 – –
2006 – –
2005 – –
2004 – –
2003 – –
2002 – –
2001 – –
2000 – –
1995 – –
1990 – –
1985 8 #4,862
1980 9 #4,274
1975 7 #4,511
1970 23 #1,870
1965 35 #1,303
1960 66 #932
1955 20 #1,756
1950 24 #1,513
1945 57 #831
1940 46 #944
1935 43 #973
1930 38 #1,143
1925 14 #2,246
1920 11 #2,667
1915 12 #2,235
1910 – –
1905 – –
1900 – –
1895 5 #1,160
1890 – –
1885 – –
1880 – –

Famous people named Herb

The most globally famous bearers of the name, ranked by fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

  1. 1 Herb Alpert Herb Alpert American musician (born 1935) Contemporary
  2. 2 Herb Kohl Herb Kohl American politician (1935–2023) Contemporary
  3. 3 Herb Ritts Herb Ritts American photographer 1952–2002 · Contemporary
  4. 4 Herb Ellis Herb Ellis American jazz guitarist (1921–2010) Contemporary
  5. 5 Herb Elliott Herb Elliott Australian middle-distance runner b. 1938 · Contemporary
  6. 6 Herb McKenley Herb McKenley Jamaican sprinter (1922–2007) Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Herb, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Herb?

The median living Herb is about 67 years old. Half of all living Herbs are between 61 and 78 years old.

How many people named Herb are alive today?

An estimated 1,000 people named Herb are alive in the United States, based on 2,007 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Herb mean?

A diminutive of the male given name Herbert.

How popular is the name Herb in 2025?

Herb did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.

How many people are named Herb?

2,007 babies have been named Herb in the United States since 1884, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Herb most popular?

Herb peaked in 1947, when 70 newborns received the name.

Is Herb a boy or girl name?

Herb is overwhelmingly a boy's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Herb rising or falling?

Herb has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Who are famous people named Herb?

Well-known people named Herb include Herb Alpert (musician), Herb Kohl (businessperson), Herb Ritts (photographer).

Names like Herb

Names that sound and feel close to Herb: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Herb with similar names → More names starting with H →