Hermione

Meaning & origin

Hermione is a name of ancient Greek origin, appearing in classical mythology and later in Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale. In the U.S., it was first recorded in 1898 but remained very rare until the late 1990s. Its modern revival began around 1999, driven largely by the Harry Potter series, whose intelligent, brave Hermione Granger became a cultural icon. The name has been steadily rising since then, and 2024 marked its peak year in usage, ranking at 2002 in 2025. Hermione is most popular in North Carolina, Texas, and Florida. Despite its literary and mythological weight, the name remains uncommon, with a one-in-16,919 incidence among newborn girls, making it a distinctive choice for parents seeking a classical yet current name.

The name is derived from the Greek Ἑρμιόνη (Hermionē), the feminine form of Hermes, the messenger god in Greek mythology. In classical legend, Hermione was the daughter of Helen and Menelaus, appearing in works by Euripides and later in Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale. The name was revived after the 1990s, partly influenced by J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series, though it had occasional earlier use.