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© 2026 Namesake · namesake.baby

Data: Social Security Administration, US births 1880–2024

Hershel — Meaning, Origin & Popularity | Namesake
All names
Hersh|Hershey
HebrewBoy↓ Fading

Hershel

HER-shul · 2 syllables

Share Hershel:
Compare with another name
Boy
#2755
↓ Fading
#2755
in the US · 2024
Popularity score: 20
Peak rank
#2555 in 2023
5yr change
-200 ranks
Birth frequency
1.3 per 100,000 births
Sex split
100% boy · 0% girl

Popularity Over Time

↑ Higher on this chart = more popular · ↓ Lower = less popular

Average0255075100Popularity score (0–100)20202024

Rank #2755 · Rising since 2020

How Popular Is This Name?

Bars show the range of popularity for each group. The dot shows where this name sits. Further right = more popular.

All US boy names
Top 200 boy names
Hebrew boy names
Hershel

Popularity score: 20  ·  SSA Rank: #2755

Rare  ·  Distinctive  ·  Familiar  ·  Common  ·  Very Common

Popularity score: 0 = least popular, 100 = most popular. Based on SSA rank.

Namesake Score
30
Higher than 30% of names
Combines uniqueness, trend, meaning, feasibility, and search interest.
Trend
↓ Fading
-200 ranks
Based on SSA rank velocity
Feasibility
Limited
.com taken · — · clear
Low friction, available
Uniqueness
70
6 per 10,000 births
Won't be common in class

Hershel scores lower overall — the popularity trend is fading.

Meaning Depth37% of score
60
Name Trend28% of score
32
Uniqueness20% of score
70
Feasibility15% of score
50

Scores are percentile-ranked across 43,000+ names.

Name DNA
HebrewYiddishClassicReligiousBoy2-syllableVintageJewish HeritageMid-centuryTraditional
Character
thoughtful intellectsteadfast loyaltyquiet strengthearnest integrity
People with this name

Qualities shared by notable Hershels

resilientdeterminedathleticambitiouscompetitive
STRONG
High confidence

Hershel is a Hebrew boy name with cooling SSA momentum. It ranked #2755 in the US in 2024.

Trend:↓ Fading · -200 ranks
Feasibility:.com taken · — · clear
Popularity:#2755 · very rare
Hershel at a Glance
Meaning:From Hebrew 'Herschel', meaning 'deer' or referring to one who is swift and graceful like a deer.
Language root:Hebrew · Yiddish
Peak rank:#2555 in 2023
5yr change:-200 ranks
Sex usage:100% boy · 0% girl
Notable bearers
Hershel Greene
Character from The Walking Dead
Hershel Walker
Athlete and political figure
Similar Sound
HaroldHermanHerbertHiramHarvey◈
Similar Style
Meyer◈SaulMortyHymieIzzy◈
Works well with
DavidRuthSamuelMiriamJacobHannah
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→ Stable
Elijah
Hebrew · #8
→ Stable
Benjamin
Hebrew · #11
→ Stable
Source: Social Security Administration baby names data. Popularity data reflects US births. Feasibility data updated monthly.
Hershel illustration
Name Intelligence
Hershel · Overview
Summary

Hershel is a Hebrew boy name with cooling SSA momentum. It ranked #2755 in the US in 2024.

Search interest: 1/100 → Stable

Strengths
Classic · Religious character
Hershel carries a warm, grounded quality that makes it distinctive without being invented.
Considerations
Popularity declining
Rank has dropped 200 positions in the last year. Consider whether this trajectory matters for your decision.
Domain taken
hershel.com is not available. Alternative TLDs may work.
Explore

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Data source:Social Security Administration
Coverage:US births 1879–2024
Updated:January 2025
ISR:Refreshes monthly
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