Hervin
French unisex name derived from a Germanic root meaning "army leader".
Name Census estimates that about 52 living Americans carry the first name Hervin. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Hervin today is around 25 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Hervin births was 2008 (8 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Hervin. 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 Hervin. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
52
~ 1 in 6,591,430 Americans
Peak year
2008
8 babies that year
Average age
25
years old
2008 SSA rank
#9,301
Tracked since 1991
Popularity
Hervin: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Hervin from the 1990s through to the 2000s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2000s, with 37 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
Hervin 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 Hervin 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 Hervin
The name Hervin has its origins in the Old Germanic language, dating back to the early medieval period. The name is derived from the root words "heri" meaning army and "win" meaning friend or protector. It is believed to have been a popular name among the warrior classes of the Germanic tribes, signifying a loyal companion in battle.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Hervin can be found in the Nibelungenlied, a German epic poem from the 13th century. In this heroic tale, Hervin is mentioned as a valiant knight in the service of the Burgundian kings. While the character may be fictional, it highlights the use of the name during this era.
During the Middle Ages, the name Hervin was particularly common in regions of present-day Germany and the Low Countries. It was often associated with nobility and military prowess, reflecting the cultural values of the time.
In the 12th century, a notable figure named Hervin von Steinbach was a prominent master builder responsible for the construction of the famous Strasbourg Cathedral in France. His architectural achievements and the enduring legacy of this iconic Gothic structure have cemented his place in history.
Another significant bearer of the name was Hervin the Wise, a scholar and philosopher from the 14th century. He was known for his contributions to the fields of logic and metaphysics, and his writings were widely studied in academic circles of the time.
During the Renaissance period, a renowned artist named Hervin van der Helst gained recognition for his exquisite portraiture. Born in 1613 in the Netherlands, his works captured the likenesses of prominent Dutch figures and are now housed in prestigious museums around the world.
In the 19th century, Hervin Wolfe was a celebrated English novelist and poet. His literary works, which explored themes of love, loss, and the human condition, garnered critical acclaim and influenced the Romantic movement of the era. He lived from 1792 to 1867.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals who have borne the name Hervin throughout history, highlighting its enduring presence across various cultures and time periods.
People
Hervin + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Hervin 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
Hervin: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Hervin?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 52 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Hervin 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 Hervin a common name?
We classify Hervin 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, 53 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Hervin most popular?
The single biggest year for Hervin was 2008, when 8 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Hervin is about 25 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Hervin a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Hervin 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.
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.