Baby Names US
boys' name ★ peaked 1959

Herbie

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 Herbie
How common
–
boys born in 2025
Peak year
1959
45 babies
All-time total
1,094
#4,843 all-time among boys
First recorded
1913
in Social Security records

Herbie popularity over time

1,094 babies have been named Herbie since 1913, 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
0.010.020.020.0318801900192019401960198020002020Peak 1939Boys

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 – – – –
1890s – – – –
1900s – – – –
1910s 14 1 – #2,975
1920s 50 5 +257% #2,741
1930s 155 16 +210% #1,178
1940s 199 20 +28% #1,178
1950s 223 22 +12% #1,163
1960s 261 26 +17% #1,215
1970s 120 12 -54% #2,163
1980s 55 6 -54% #4,057
1990s 10 1 -82% #9,352
2000s 7 1 -30% #10,163
2010s – – – –
2020s (to 2025) – – – –

The story of Herbie

Herbie 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 1913, 1,094 American babies have been named Herbie. Its peak came in 1959, when 45 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1950s.

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 Herbie stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Herbie?

The median living Herbie is about 64 years old; half are between 55 and 72. An estimated 700 people named Herbie are alive in the United States today.

median 64 020406080100

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

Herbie 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 7 #10,163
2006 – –
2005 – –
2004 – –
2003 – –
2002 – –
2001 – –
2000 – –
1995 5 #9,380
1990 – –
1985 6 #6,069
1980 8 #4,668
1975 18 #2,395
1970 11 #2,966
1965 22 #1,689
1960 42 #1,219
1955 19 #1,815
1950 17 #1,844
1945 12 #2,051
1940 18 #1,655
1935 14 #1,976
1930 8 #3,141
1925 – –
1920 – –
1915 – –
1910 – –
1905 – –
1900 – –
1895 – –
1890 – –
1885 – –
1880 – –

Famous people named Herbie

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

  1. 1 Herbie Hancock Herbie Hancock American jazz pianist and composer (born 1940) Contemporary
  2. 2 Herbie Mann Herbie Mann American jazz flutist (1930–2003) Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Herbie?

The median living Herbie is about 64 years old. Half of all living Herbies are between 55 and 72 years old.

How many people named Herbie are alive today?

An estimated 700 people named Herbie are alive in the United States, based on 1,094 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Herbie mean?

A diminutive of the male given name Herbert.

How popular is the name Herbie in 2025?

Herbie 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 Herbie?

1,094 babies have been named Herbie in the United States since 1913, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Herbie most popular?

Herbie peaked in 1959, when 45 newborns received the name.

Is Herbie a boy or girl name?

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

Is the name Herbie rising or falling?

Herbie has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Who are famous people named Herbie?

Well-known people named Herbie include Herbie Hancock (musician), Herbie Mann (musician).

Names like Herbie

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

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