Hulbert
One who dwells near or protects a thickly wooded area.
Name Census estimates that about 16 living Americans carry the first name Hulbert. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Hulbert today is around 88 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Hulbert births was 1917 (9 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Hulbert. 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 Hulbert is about 88 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Hulberts were born before 1948.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Hulbert. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
16
~ 1 in 21,422,146 Americans
Peak year
1917
9 babies that year
Average age
88
years old
1948 SSA rank
#3,908
Tracked since 1911
Popularity
Hulbert: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Hulbert from the 1910s through to the 1940s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1910s, with 50 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1910s peak, Hulbert remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Hulbert 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 Hulbert 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 Hulbert
The name Hulbert has its origins in the Germanic languages and is believed to have emerged during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old German words "huldi" meaning "grace" or "favor" and "berht" meaning "bright" or "shining." The combination of these two elements suggests that the name Hulbert was initially used to describe someone who was favored or graced with brightness, possibly referring to a person's physical appearance or their demeanor.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Hulbert dates back to the 11th century, where it appears in a historical document from the region of present-day Germany. This early mention indicates that the name was in use among Germanic communities during this time period and may have been more widespread in the subsequent centuries.
In the 12th century, a monk named Hulbert of Gembloux, born in the Holy Roman Empire around 1109, gained recognition for his scholarly work and writings on theology and philosophy. His name is among the earliest prominent examples of the use of Hulbert, and his contributions to medieval literature and religious studies have endured.
Fast forward to the 16th century, and we encounter Hulbert Van Etten, a Dutch explorer and navigator who was born in 1551. Van Etten was known for his expeditions to the East Indies and his role in the early stages of Dutch colonization efforts in the region.
Moving into the 18th century, Hulbert Footner, an English author and playwright, was born in 1779. Footner is remembered for his works such as "The Mayor of Garratt" and "The Times," which explored social commentary and satire during the Georgian era.
In the 19th century, Hulbert Herkomer, a renowned German-British artist and sculptor, was born in 1849. Herkomer's works, including portraits and public sculptures, garnered critical acclaim and earned him recognition from the Royal Academy of Arts in London.
These historical examples demonstrate the longevity and diversity of the name Hulbert, spanning various cultures, professions, and time periods. While its origins can be traced back to the Germanic languages, the name has transcended geographical boundaries and has been carried by individuals who have left their mark in various fields throughout history.
People
Hulbert + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Hulbert 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
Hulbert: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Hulbert?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 16 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Hulbert 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 21,422,146 US residents.
Is Hulbert a common name?
We classify Hulbert as "Very Rare". It ranks above 36.5% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 128 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Hulbert most popular?
The single biggest year for Hulbert was 1917, when 9 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Hulbert is about 88 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 Hulbert in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Hulbert a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Hulbert 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 Hulbert still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Hulbert 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 Hulbert 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 Hulbert?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.