Herbert
How to say it: HUR-burt · /ˈhɜrbərt/
From Old High German 'Heribert' meaning 'army-bright' (from 'heri' army + 'beraht' bright/shining).
Herbert was the 2,077th most popular boys’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 49 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 1900s, its births are down about 36% in ten years, and it is projected to slip to #2,203 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among boys’ names, 2025 | #2,077 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 49 |
| Share of births | 1 in 67,660 |
| Peak decade | 1900s |
| Change over 10 years | −36% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #2,203 |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Herbert peaked in the 1900s and is less common today.
What goes with it
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Herbert is about under 1 in 200.
Around the world
This spelling is used in Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, French, German, Norwegian, Polish, Swedish.
Famous people named Herbert
- Herbert Hoover (1874–1964)President of the United States from 1929 to 1933
- Herbert Spencer (1820–1903)English philosopher and political theorist
- Herbert Marcuse (1898–1979)German philosopher, sociologist, and political theorist
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
Good to know
- UK slang for a foolish person ('Don't be such a Herbert!')
- John Herbert, 'Herbert the Pervert', elderly neighbour character on Family Guy
Keep exploring
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