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Herold
How to Pronounce Herold
Pronounced HAIR-uhld /ˈhɛrəld/Medium
Meaning: Herold most often respells Harold, from the Old English Hereweald, made of here 'army' and weald 'ruler, power', so 'army ruler' or 'leader of the host'.Low
Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data
U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.
SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.
History & Origin
Herold sits between two names: it is usually just Harold spelled with an e, but in German and Dutch families it can be the standalone Herold, 'herald'. Harold itself comes from the Old English Hereweald and was famous as the last Saxon king of England.
Herold was never common in the United States, drawing only a couple dozen boys a year even at its high around 1923 and thinning after mid-century. It reads as a slightly unusual spelling of a solid old name; a boy given it then would be of a great-grandfather's generation now.
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Frequently Asked
What does the name Herold mean?
It is usually a respelling of Harold, Old English for 'army ruler'; in German it also means 'herald'.
How do you pronounce Herold?
It's said HAIR-uhld /ˈhɛrəld/, two syllables, stress on the first.
Is Herold a boy or girl name?
Herold is used as a boy's name.
Is Herold a popular name?
No, it was always rare, a spelling of Harold seen only faintly in the early twentieth century.