Herdis
A feminine name of Scandinavian origin meaning "army maiden" or "military woman".
Name Census estimates that about 5 living Americans carry the first name Herdis. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Herdis today is around 76 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Herdis births was 1946 (7 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Herdis. 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 Herdis is about 76 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Herdis' were born before 1960.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Herdis. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
5
~ 1 in 68,550,868 Americans
Peak year
1946
7 babies that year
Average age
76
years old
1946 SSA rank
#3,015
Tracked since 1931
Popularity
Herdis: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Herdis from the 1930s through to the 1940s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1940s, with 7 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Herdis 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 Herdis 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 Herdis
The given name Herdis has its origins in Old Norse and Scandinavian culture, with roots dating back to the Viking Age, which spanned from the late 8th to the late 11th century. The name is derived from the Old Norse words "herd" meaning "brave" and "is" meaning "ice", combined to form "Herdis", which loosely translates to "brave ice".
In ancient Norse mythology, the name Herdis was associated with valiant female warriors and shield maidens who fought alongside the Vikings. It was a name bestowed upon daughters born in the harsh, icy lands of Scandinavia, symbolizing the strength and resilience required to endure the unforgiving Nordic winters.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Herdis can be found in the Icelandic Sagas, a collection of Norse literature dating back to the 13th century. In the Saga of Gisli the Outlaw, a character named Herdis Bolladottir plays a pivotal role, showcasing the name's historical significance within Norse culture.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Herdis. One such person was Herdis Møllehave (1914-1985), a Danish writer and poet known for her lyrical works that captured the essence of rural life in Denmark. Another was Herdis Jönsson (1895-1967), a Swedish actress who graced the stage and screen during the early 20th century.
In Norway, the name Herdis gained prominence through Herdis Alvsvåg (1859-1947), a pioneering educator and women's rights advocate who fought tirelessly for gender equality and educational reform. Her efforts paved the way for future generations of Norwegian women.
Additionally, Herdis Møller (1906-1996) was a Danish artist renowned for her intricate woodcuts and linocuts, capturing the beauty of nature and rural landscapes. Her artwork is celebrated in museums and galleries across Denmark.
Lastly, Herdis Paus (1932-2010) was a Norwegian politician and diplomat who served as the Minister of Culture and Science in Norway from 1981 to 1983, leaving a lasting impact on the country's cultural and educational policies.
People
Herdis + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Herdis as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with H
Other first names starting with H with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Herdis: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Herdis?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 5 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Herdis 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 68,550,868 US residents.
Is Herdis a common name?
We classify Herdis as "Very Rare". It ranks above 18.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 13 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Herdis most popular?
The single biggest year for Herdis was 1946, when 7 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Herdis is about 76 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 Herdis in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Herdis a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Herdis 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 Herdis still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Herdis 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 Herdis 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 are named Herdis?
Want to know how many people share the name Herdis? HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, puts the living-bearer count front and centre.