Herbert

At a Glance: Name: Herbert – Meaning: bright army – Origin: Germanic (via Old French, from Frankish *Hariberht) – Gender: used for both boys and girls – Pronunciation: HER-bert

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Herbert is a Germanic name that came into English by way of Old French, tracing back to the Frankish *Hariberht and carrying the meaning "bright army." It's a name built from old, sturdy roots rather than a modern coinage. If you're researching names with a clear Germanic origin and a straightforward etymology, Herbert is a solid example.

Meaning & Origin of Herbert

Meaning: Bright army.

Origin: Germanic (via Old French, from Frankish *Hariberht).

Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.

How to Pronounce Herbert

Phonetic: HER-bert   IPA: /ˈhɜːrbərt/

Popularity of Herbert

Herbert peaked at #25 in 1928, when 8,065 baby boys were given the name that year, but by 2024 it had dropped all the way to #2482 with just 55 boys named Herbert. Across the SSA's full 1880-2024 data range, that's a name that went from a top-25 favorite to a rare choice.

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1880–2024.

Make Herbert Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Herbert, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.

Names With a Similar Story

Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.

• Imogene
• Mervin
• Ileana
• Ellamae
• Juanita
• Gregorio

FAQ

What does the name Herbert mean?

Bright army. (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Herbert)

How do you pronounce Herbert?

Herbert is pronounced HER-bert (IPA: /ˈhɜːrbərt/).

Is Herbert a popular name right now?

Herbert peaked at #25 in 1928 and is ranked #2482 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)

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