Holding steady.
Popularity of Herve since 1911
Babies named Herve per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 111 |
| 1920s | 161 |
| 1930s | 84 |
| 1940s | 36 |
| 1950s | 11 |
| 1960s | 28 |
| 1970s | 21 |
| 1980s | 72 |
| 1990s | 17 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 6 |
| 2020s | 13 |
Meaning & origin
Hervé is a distinctly French and Breton name rarely encountered in the United States. Its recorded U.S. use began in 1911, with a modest peak in 1919 for that era. The name has never ranked among the top 1000 U.S. names and shows a stable trajectory of very low use. Despite its obscurity in American data, Hervé retains a strong cultural identity in France and Brittany, where it is associated with Saint Hervé, a 6th-century blind Breton hermit and poet. The name’s etymological components evoke battle and worthiness, giving it a strong, traditional character.
Hervé is the French form of the Old Breton name Hervé, derived from the elements aergol (slaughter) or haer (battle) and uuiu (worthy). The name was borne by a 6th-century Breton saint and has been used in Brittany and France for centuries. It saw modest use among French-speaking communities in North America.
Nicknames & variants
Variants: Hervé, Hervaeus, Ervey
Sibling names for Herve
Names that share Herve's style, for a brother or sister.
