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Herman

♂ Boy

Pronounced HERR-muhn /ˈhɜɹ.mən/Medium

Meaning: Army manMedium

In 30 seconds: Herman is an English name meaning 'army man,' built from old Germanic words for warrior.
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Origin MediumEnglish, Dutch, Swedish
MeaningArmy man
U.S. rank (2024)#2641 ↘ Falling
2024 U.S. births50 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year1921
Total births (all-time)≈ 135,914

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 192118802024

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Herman carries the straightforward meaning 'army man,' rooted in Germanic elements for army and man. It came into English alongside a wide spread of European forms reflecting the same warrior sense. The meaning is martial and plain: a man of the army.

Its relatives show how far the name traveled — Latinized Hermanus and Hermannus, Finnish Hermanni, the older Hariman, and Dutch Harmen. It has strong roots in the Low Countries, where bearers include Belgian statesman Herman Van Rompuy and Dutch performer Herman van Veen.

Did you know? The meaning usually attached to Herman is 'army man', and that core idea is what gives the name most of its long-term appeal.
Overall data confidence 78%
Behind the Name - Herman — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

HarmenHermanusHermanniHarimanHermannus

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

  • ★Herman Van Rompuy (1947–present)
    Belgian politician, first permanent President of European Council.
  • ★Herman van Veen (1945–present)
    Dutch stage performer, singer-songwriter, creator of Alfred J. Kwak.

Frequently Asked

What does the name Herman mean?

Herman is usually explained as meaning 'army man' and is most often linked with English tradition.

How do you pronounce Herman?

It's commonly said HERR-muhn /ˈhɜɹ.mən/.

Is Herman a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Herman is used as a boy name.

How popular is Herman?

In 2024, Herman ranked #2641 in the U.S. for boys, with 50 births recorded.