Herbert

Meaning of Herbert

Bright or shining army.

Herbert has German roots — browse every German baby name in our catalog.

Popularity of Herbert

After ranking as high as #966 in 2000, Herbert has fallen out of the US top 1,000 as of 2025.

Notable people named Herbert

• Herbert Hoover
  31st U.S. President
• Herbert von Karajan
  Austrian conductor
• Herbert Lom
  Actor (Pink Panther series)
• Herbert Simon
  Nobel laureate (economics)
• Herbert Read
  English art critic

More German names

Questions about the name Herbert

What does the name Herbert mean?

Herbert means bright or shining army, and it comes from German origins.

Is Herbert a boy's or a girl's name?

Herbert is most commonly used as a boy's name in the United States.

How popular is the name Herbert?

Herbert did not appear in the top 1,000 baby names in 2025, which makes it a genuinely uncommon pick.

When was Herbert most popular?

Herbert peaked at #966 in 2000.