Hermenia
A feminine name derived from Greek meaning "earth lover".
Name Census estimates that about 52 living Americans carry the first name Hermenia. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Hermenia today is around 80 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Hermenia births was 1931 (11 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Hermenia. 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 Hermenia is about 80 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Hermenias were born before 1956.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Hermenia. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
52
~ 1 in 6,591,430 Americans
Peak year
1931
11 babies that year
Average age
80
years old
1958 SSA rank
#5,081
Tracked since 1915
Popularity
Hermenia: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Hermenia from the 1910s through to the 1950s, spanning 5 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1930s, with 53 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1930s peak, Hermenia remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Hermenia 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 Hermenia during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Hermenias live
Origin
Meaning and history of Hermenia
The given name Hermenia has its roots in ancient Greek culture, originating from the word "Hermes," the name of the Greek god associated with language, communication, and wisdom. This name likely emerged during the classical period in Greece, around the 5th century BCE.
Hermenia was a feminine form of the masculine name Hermes, possibly derived from the Greek word "hermēneus," meaning "interpreter" or "messenger." This connection to the god Hermes and the concept of communication may have made the name popular among Greek families who valued eloquence and intellectual pursuits.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Hermenia can be found in ancient Greek literature, such as the works of the playwright Euripides, who lived from around 480 BCE to 406 BCE. In his play "Andromache," Hermenia is mentioned as the name of a character, though little is known about the historical significance of this particular individual.
Throughout the centuries, several notable women have borne the name Hermenia. One such figure was Hermenia Cadwalader (1642-1698), an English Quaker minister and early settler in Pennsylvania. She played a significant role in the establishment of the Quaker community in the American colonies.
Another prominent bearer of the name was Hermenia Buttrick (1831-1904), an American author and educator from Massachusetts. She wrote several books on domestic life and etiquette, reflecting the societal expectations and values of her time.
In the realm of arts and literature, Hermenia Harris Browne (1834-1926) was a notable American painter and author. Born in Massachusetts, she produced numerous works depicting scenes from everyday life and published several books, including novels and poetry collections.
Hermenia Cousins (1835-1924) was a British philanthropist and social reformer. She dedicated her life to improving the living conditions of the poor and advocated for education and healthcare initiatives, particularly in London's East End.
It is important to note that these are just a few examples, and the name Hermenia has likely been borne by countless individuals throughout history, each with their own unique stories and contributions to their respective communities and societies.
People
Hermenia + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Hermenia 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
Hermenia: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Hermenia?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 52 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Hermenia 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 6,591,430 US residents.
Is Hermenia a common name?
We classify Hermenia as "Very Rare". It ranks above 54.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 159 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Hermenia most popular?
The single biggest year for Hermenia was 1931, when 11 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Hermenia is about 80 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Hermenia a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Hermenia 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.
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.