Home › Baby Names Directory › Holman
Holman
Pronounced HOLE-mun /ˈhoʊl.mən/Medium
Meaning: Holman is an English surname adopted as a first name. It comes from Old English elements meaning a person who lived by a hollow or by a holly tree, joined to man, marking someone by where they dwelt.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
Holman began as an English surname, from Old English roots describing someone who lived by a hollow, a low or sheltered spot, or by holly trees, with the added man element. Like many surnames it moved into first-name use, especially in the early twentieth century when family names were often passed on as given names. It has a sturdy, plainspoken character.
Holman was never a common given name. It appeared in United States records only in small numbers, given to fewer than twenty boys a year at its peak in the early twentieth century.
Variations
Nicknames
Famous Bearers
- Famous bearers coming soon.
If you like Holman…
Explore names like Holman
Frequently Asked
What does the name Holman mean?
It is an English surname from Old English for a dweller by a hollow or holly, plus man.
How do you pronounce Holman?
It is said HOLE-mun /ˈhoʊl.mən/, two syllables.
Is Holman a boy or girl name?
Holman is used as a boy's name.
How popular is Holman?
It has always been rare in the United States, given to only about twenty boys a year at its peak in the early twentieth century.