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Hersh

♂ Boy

Pronounced HEHRSH /ˈhɛrʃ/Medium

Meaning: DeerMedium

In 30 seconds: Hersh is a Yiddish name meaning 'deer,' a small, plain-spoken name from Ashkenazi Jewish tradition.

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Origin MediumYiddish

MeaningDeer

U.S. rank (2025)#2853 ↗ Rising

2025 U.S. births44 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2024

Total births (all-time)≈ 883

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

Hersh comes from Yiddish and means deer. The animal carried gentle, swift connotations in the naming world it grew from, and the name itself is short and unadorned. There is no elaborate backstory here beyond that clear meaning.

It is a compact, single-syllable name with a soft opening and a quiet finish. Within Ashkenazi families it sits among other animal-derived names, where the deer stood for grace and gentleness.

Did you know? The meaning usually attached to Hersh is 'deer', and that core idea is what gives the name most of its long-term appeal.

Overall data confidence 70%

Behind the Name - Hersh — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

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Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

★Hersh Goldberg-Polin (2000-2024)
American-Israeli man taken hostage by Hamas whose case drew international attention

If you like Hersh…

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Dovid— a fellow Yiddish choice

Shaya— a similarly popular pick

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Hersh mean?

Hersh is usually explained as meaning 'deer' and is most often linked with Yiddish tradition.

How do you pronounce Hersh?

It's commonly said HEHRSH /ˈhɛrʃ/.

Is Hersh a boy or girl name?

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

How popular is Hersh?

In 2024, Hersh ranked #2882 in the U.S. for boys, with 44 births recorded.