A 1900s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Herschel since 1880
Babies named Herschel per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1921, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Herschel's real moment was 1901.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 150 |
| 1890s | 262 |
| 1900s | 359 |
| 1910s | 1,701 |
| 1920s | 2,258 |
| 1930s | 1,476 |
| 1940s | 1,296 |
| 1950s | 1,012 |
| 1960s | 591 |
| 1970s | 376 |
| 1980s | 402 |
| 1990s | 262 |
| 2000s | 144 |
| 2010s | 204 |
| 2020s | 181 |
Meaning & origin
Herschel peaked in popularity in 1901, when it ranked as a top choice for baby boys in the United States. After a long decline, the name has seen a modest resurgence since around 2010, with a trajectory marked as rising. It is particularly favored in Texas, one of the top states for the name in recent years. In 2025, approximately 1 in 50,238 male babies were named Herschel, reflecting its continued status as a rare but culturally significant choice. Its deep roots in Jewish tradition and its connection to the biblical name Tzvi give it a distinguished meaning of 'deer' or 'hart', symbolizing grace and swiftness.
Herschel originated as a Yiddish diminutive of the medieval German name Hirsch, meaning 'deer' or 'hart'. In Jewish communities, it was often used as a vernacular form for the biblical name Tzvi (צבי), also meaning 'deer', reflecting a common Ashkenazi tradition of secular or animal-based nicknames. The name was brought to the United States primarily by Jewish immigrants from Central and Eastern Europe in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Where Herschel is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Hersh, Hershy, Hershel
Sibling names for Herschel
Names that share Herschel's style, for a brother or sister.
