Herb

German

"bright army"

Herb Origin and Meaning

The name Herb is a boy's name.

Herb is a masculine name that originated as a shortened form of Herbert, which comes from Germanic elements 'hari' meaning 'army' and 'beraht' meaning 'bright.' Primarily used in English-speaking countries, Herb peaked in popularity in the United States during the early 20th century. The name has a friendly, unpretentious quality that reflects its association with everyday herbs and plants, despite its martial etymological origins. Herb gained cultural recognition through notable bearers like American bandleader Herb Alpert and basketball player Herb Williams. While rarely given as a formal name to newborns today, it retains a warm, vintage charm that evokes the mid-century era. The name's brevity and straightforward pronunciation give it an accessible, down-to-earth character.

Herb Rank in US Top 1000

# 932 in the US

Famous People Named Herb

• Herbert "Herb" McGinley/Airey/Lewis pet dog of YouTube personalities Wroetoshaw, Calfreezy and Callux
• Herb Alpert American musician and bandleader
• Herbert Paul "Herb" Brooks American ice hockey player and coach
• Herbert Allen "Herb" Adderley American NFL player
• Herbert H. "Herb" Kohl U.S. Senator from Wisconsin
• Herbert Eser "Herb" Gray Canadian politician
• Herbert "Herb" Edelman American actor

The name Herb in Pop Culture

• Herbert "Herb" Powell Homer's half,brother on "The Simpsons"
• Herb Overkill character in the film "Minions"
• Herb Copperbottom character in the movie "Robots"