Hermene
A feminine name derived from Greek mythology's Hermes, meaning "interpreter" or "messenger".
Name Census estimates that about 2 living Americans carry the first name Hermene. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Hermene today is around 76 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Hermene births was 1939 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Hermene. 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 Hermene is about 76 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Hermenes were born before 1960.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Hermene. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
2
~ 1 in 171,377,169 Americans
Peak year
1939
6 babies that year
Average age
76
years old
1939 SSA rank
#3,964
Tracked since 1939
Popularity
Hermene: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Hermene 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 Hermene during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1930s | 0 | 6 | 6 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Hermene
The name Hermene is believed to have its roots in the ancient Greek language, originating sometime around the 5th century BCE. It is thought to be derived from the Greek name Hermes, the messenger god in Greek mythology, known for his cunning, swiftness, and eloquence. The name Hermes is believed to stem from the Greek word "hermeneus," meaning interpreter or messenger.
Hermene was a relatively uncommon name in ancient Greece, but it did appear in some historical records and texts. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in Plutarch's "Lives of the Noble Greeks and Romans," where he mentions a woman named Hermene who lived in the 4th century BCE and was known for her wisdom and knowledge of philosophy.
Throughout the centuries, the name Hermene has been borne by a handful of notable figures. In the 2nd century CE, there was a Greek philosopher named Hermene of Alexandria, who was known for her teachings on Neoplatonism. Another noteworthy individual was Hermene of Ephesus, a Christian martyr who lived in the 3rd century CE and was executed for her religious beliefs.
During the Middle Ages, the name Hermene was rare, but it did appear occasionally. One example is Hermene of Poitiers, a French noblewoman who lived in the 11th century and was known for her patronage of the arts and literature. In the 14th century, there was a German mystic named Hermene of Regensburg, who was revered for her spiritual teachings and writings.
In more recent history, the name Hermene was borne by Hermene Hartog, a Dutch painter who lived from 1845 to 1919 and was known for her vibrant still-life and landscape paintings. Another notable figure was Hermene Wiltshire, an American mathematician who lived from 1921 to 1994 and made significant contributions to the field of topology.
While the name Hermene has never been extremely common, it has been carried by a diverse group of individuals throughout history, each leaving their mark in various fields such as philosophy, religion, art, and science. Despite its ancient Greek roots, the name has managed to transcend time and cultures, serving as a testament to the enduring appeal of names with rich historical and mythological connections.
People
Hermene + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Hermene 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
Hermene: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Hermene?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 2 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Hermene 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 Hermene a common name?
We classify Hermene 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, 6 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Hermene most popular?
The single biggest year for Hermene was 1939, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Hermene 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 Hermene in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Hermene a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Hermene in the SSA data are female. 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 Hermene still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Hermene 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 Hermene 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 called Hermene?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.