Herrel
A masculine given name of Germanic origin meaning "warrior leader".
Name Census estimates that about 0 living Americans carry the first name Herrel. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Herrel today is around 0 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Herrel births was 1926 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Herrel. 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
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Herrel. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
0
~ - Americans
Peak year
1926
5 babies that year
Average age
-
1926 SSA rank
#4,486
Tracked since 1926
Popularity
Herrel: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Herrel 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 Herrel during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1920s | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Herrel
The name Herrel has its origins in the Germanic languages, with roots that can be traced back to the Middle Ages. The name is derived from the Old German word "heru," which means "army" or "warrior," and the diminutive suffix "-el," suggesting a diminutive or affectionate form. This combination likely translates to "little warrior" or "young soldier."
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Herrel dates back to the 9th century, when it was mentioned in the Carolingian manuscripts from the Frankish Empire. These manuscripts contain various records, including legal documents and chronicles of the time, suggesting that the name was in use during the reign of Charlemagne.
Throughout the Middle Ages, the name Herrel was predominantly found in Germanic-speaking regions, particularly in what is now modern-day Germany, the Netherlands, and parts of France. It was commonly associated with families of noble or military lineage, reflecting the name's connotations of strength and bravery.
One notable figure who bore the name Herrel was Herrel of Koblenz, a German knight who lived in the 12th century. He was a prominent figure in the Crusades and is mentioned in several historical accounts of the time for his acts of valor on the battlefield.
Another historical figure associated with the name Herrel was Herrel von Sachsenhausen, a German nobleman and landowner from the 14th century. He played a significant role in the political affairs of the region during his lifetime and was known for his contributions to the development of his estate and the surrounding areas.
In the 15th century, Herrel Vander Spruyt, a Flemish artist and painter, gained recognition for his exquisite works of art. His paintings, which depicted religious and historical scenes, were highly regarded and can still be found in various museums and galleries across Europe.
Another individual of note was Herrel Diederich, a German scholar and theologian who lived in the 16th century. He was a prominent figure in the Protestant Reformation and contributed significantly to the translation and dissemination of religious texts during that period.
While the name Herrel has its roots in the Germanic languages, it has been adapted and adopted in various cultures over time. However, its historical origins and associations with strength, bravery, and military prowess remain deeply ingrained in its meaning and significance.
People
Herrel + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Herrel 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
Herrel: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Herrel?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 0 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Herrel 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 - US residents.
Is Herrel a common name?
We classify Herrel as "Very Rare". It ranks above 2.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 5 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Herrel most popular?
The single biggest year for Herrel was 1926, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Herrel is about 0 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 Herrel in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Herrel a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Herrel 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 Herrel still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Herrel 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 Herrel 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 Herrel?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.