Hershel

Hershel - A very unique male name

Hershel appeared on the charts for the first time in 1910 on position #447. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Hershel and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Hershel? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Hershel. The baby boy name Hershel was given to 30 baby boys in 2025, ranking #2099 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 48,876 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Hershel peaked in popularity 94 years ago in 1932 on position 379.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Hershel, 1-5?

Hershel is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Hershel is currently topping the baby name charts in New York at position #535 - and is the least popular in New York at position #535.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Hershel is where you live.

---

Comment and discuss

---

Hershel origin and meaning

Yiddish

From Yiddish Hersh, 'deer,' with a diminutive ending — the name is the Yiddish counterpart of Hebrew Tzvi, also 'deer'

Hershel is the Anglicised form of the Yiddish name Hershl, a diminutive of Hersh. It was used in Jewish families and, in the US South, more widely, peaking in 1919. It has been declining gently for decades.

Attested etymology

Hershel is a 7 letter name with 2 syllables.

To see famous people named Hershel, pop culture references for the name Hershel and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Hershel

We've found the following names that sound similar to Hershel, sorted by popularity.

Herschel / Hershell / Hercules / Hurshel / Herschell / Heraclio / Hershal / Harshil / Herchel / Hurschel /

---

Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Hershel

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Hershel a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique male name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Hershel?

2 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

---

Pronunciation

HUR-shul · /ˈhɜrʃəl/

Around the world

No traditional forms in other languages — this name was created in America in our own time.

Spellings and nicknames

• Herschel — The German-influenced spelling, borne by astronomer William Herschel

Nicknames: Hersh

Famous bearers

• Hershel Walker — Football player and Heisman Trophy winner (b. 1962) Contemporary
• Hershel Greene — Elderly farmer and moral centre of The Walking Dead (Fictional, 2010) Fictional

Style

Classic

Why parents choose it

Hershel is chosen as a warm, old-fashioned name, often in honour of a grandfather.

Worth knowing

• Often respelled Herschel; reads as strongly vintage