Holding steady.
Popularity of Herchel since 1907
Babies named Herchel per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1918, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Herchel's real moment was 1907.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1900s | 5 |
| 1910s | 79 |
| 1920s | 116 |
| 1930s | 94 |
| 1940s | 76 |
| 1950s | 41 |
| 1960s | 24 |
| 1970s | 6 |
| 1980s | 8 |
| 1990s | 5 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Herchel is a rare given name, essentially a variant of the more familiar Herschel. Its earliest recorded use in the United States dates to 1907, which also marks its peak year. Since then, the name has seen only sporadic, minimal usage, with no data for most recent years, indicating extreme rarity. The trajectory over time is stable in the sense of consistently low numbers. As a respelling or diminutive of Herschel, it carries echoes of the Yiddish term for 'deer.' While it never appeared in the top 1000 names, its quiet history reflects a pattern typical of many early 20th-century names that faded from common use. The name's limited presence means it has no top states or notable bearers, but it retains a distinct, old-world charm for parents seeking an uncommon name with a straightforward sound.
Herchel is likely a variant of Herschel, which originates from the Yiddish word 'hershel' meaning 'little deer' or 'deer.' It may also be an Americanized respelling of the Germanic surname Herschel, used as a given name. The name has seen sporadic use in the United States since the early 20th century, often as a variant of the more common Herschel.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Herch, Herchie
Sibling names for Herchel
Names that share Herchel's style, for a brother or sister.
