Berger
An Old German masculine given name meaning "one from the hills or mountains".
Name Census estimates that about 2 living Americans carry the first name Berger. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Berger today is around 80 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Berger births was 1914 (9 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Berger. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • The typical person named Berger is about 80 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Bergers were born before 1956.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Berger. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
2
~ 1 in 171,377,169 Americans
Peak year
1914
9 babies that year
Average age
80
years old
1931 SSA rank
#3,419
Tracked since 1912
Popularity
Berger: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Berger from the 1910s through to the 1930s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1910s, with 35 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1910s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Berger by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Berger during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Berger
The given name Berger has its origins in the French language, tracing back to the Middle Ages. It stems from the French word "berger," which translates to "shepherd" or "one who tends to sheep." This occupation-based name likely emerged in the 12th or 13th century, reflecting the pastoral lifestyle and prominence of shepherding in rural France during that era.
The name Berger can be linked to the Latin word "berbex," meaning "ram" or "male sheep," further reinforcing its connection to the shepherding profession. Similar spellings of the name, such as "Bergier" and "Bergère," were also common in various regions of France.
While no specific historical references to individuals bearing the name Berger have been found in ancient texts or religious scriptures, the earliest recorded examples of the name can be traced back to the 13th and 14th centuries in French historical records and municipal registers.
One notable figure with the name Berger was Jacques Berger (1445-1506), a French architect and engineer who was involved in the construction of several notable buildings, including the Château de Gaillon and the Cathedral of Rouen. His contributions to French Renaissance architecture have been widely celebrated.
Another individual of historical significance was Michel Berger (1947-1992), a French singer, songwriter, and composer renowned for his collaborations with various artists, including his wife, the legendary French singer France Gall. Berger's compositions, such as "La Groupie du Pianiste" and "Starmania," left an indelible mark on the French music scene.
In the realm of literature, Éric Berger (1930-2012) was a prominent French novelist and screenwriter. His works, including "La Nuit de la Rose" and "La Femme d'Affaires," explored themes of love, desire, and the complexities of human relationships.
Another notable figure was Alfred von Berger (1853-1912), an Austrian painter and illustrator known for his realistic and detailed depictions of animals, particularly horses. His paintings and illustrations were widely admired during his lifetime and remain celebrated in the art world.
Finally, Erna Berger (1900-1990) was a German singer and actress who gained international recognition for her performances in operettas and musicals during the 1920s and 1930s. Her portrayal of leading roles in works such as "The Merry Widow" and "The Gypsy Baron" cemented her status as a beloved figure in the world of light opera.
People
Berger + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Berger as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with B
Other first names starting with B with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Berger: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Berger?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 2 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Berger going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 171,377,169 US residents.
Is Berger a common name?
We classify Berger as "Very Rare". It ranks above 4.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 54 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Berger most popular?
The single biggest year for Berger was 1914, when 9 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Berger is about 80 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Berger in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Berger a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Berger in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Berger still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Berger in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Berger can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people have the name Berger?
For a quick modern take, check how many people share the name Berger on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.