Hershall

Meaning & origin

Hershall is a rare given name that first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1914. Its peak year of usage was 1918, during a period when variants of Herschel saw moderate popularity among Jewish immigrant communities. Despite its early 20th-century spike, the name has since become extremely uncommon, with no recorded births in recent decades according to Social Security data. The trajectory of Hershall's usage has been stable but minimal, primarily because it is a less common spelling variant of Herschel. The top states where the name has appeared are not documented, likely due to its low frequency. For parents seeking a name with Yiddish roots and a vintage feel, Hershall offers a distinctive alternative to more common variants.

Hershall is likely a variant spelling of Herschel or Hershel, which derive from the Yiddish surname Hersch, itself from the German word 'Hirsch' meaning 'deer'. The name was introduced to English-speaking countries by Ashkenazi Jewish immigrants in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its spelling variations, including Hershall and Hershel, arose as Anglicized forms of the original Yiddish. The name has seen modest use in the United States, particularly in the early 1900s.