Holding steady.
Popularity of Herschell since 1897
Babies named Herschell per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1924, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Herschell's real moment was 1901.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 5 |
| 1900s | 10 |
| 1910s | 173 |
| 1920s | 267 |
| 1930s | 186 |
| 1940s | 150 |
| 1950s | 97 |
| 1960s | 100 |
| 1970s | 24 |
| 1980s | 36 |
| 1990s | 11 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Herschell is a rare English name most often recognized as a variant spelling of Herschel. It first appeared in U.S. Social Security records in 1897, and its peak year of usage was 1901, though even then it was infrequent. The name has maintained a stable trajectory, never experiencing a dramatic revival. As a name rooted in English surname tradition, it carries the earthy meaning of 'deer meadow.' Its most notable association is with astronomer Sir William Herschel, though the name itself has remained uncommon in the United States.
Herschell is a variant of Herschel, itself an English surname derived from the Old English words 'heorot' (hart, male deer) and 'hyll' (hill), later altered to 'schelle' (spring or stream) in some interpretations. The name is most famously associated with the astronomer William Herschel, who discovered Uranus in 1781. It saw modest use in the United States in the early 20th century, particularly in the 1900s.
Nicknames & variants
Sibling names for Herschell
Names that share Herschell's style, for a brother or sister.
