Herbert

The male first name Herbert is translated as 'the shining one in the army' or 'the famous warrior'. This modern variant of Heribert, an Old High German name, has its roots in the name Haribert.

What does the name Herbert mean?

Herbert means 'the shining one in the army' or 'the famous warrior'. The name is a younger form of Heribert, which consists of two Old High German elements. The terms heri, meaning 'army' or 'warrior', and beraht, meaning 'shining' or 'famous', form the basis. In the Middle Ages, Herbert became particularly popular due to the veneration of Saint Heribert, the Archbishop of Cologne (999-1021). By the early 20th century, it was among the most common boys' names in Germany, but it fell out of fashion by the 1950s and is currently rarely chosen for newborns. Variations of the name include Herbertus, Heriberto, and Harbert.

Where does the name Herbert come from?

The first name Herbert has Old High German roots and means 'the shining one in the army' or 'the famous warrior'. The word components consist of heri, meaning 'army' or 'warrior', and beraht, meaning 'shining' or 'famous'. The linguistic roots lie in Old German.

How do you pronounce Herbert?

The name Herbert has a clear, two-syllable structure. In German pronunciation, it is usually articulated as 'Her-bert' [ˈhɛʁbɛʁt], with the consonant cluster in the middle creating a distinctive sound. The strong ending with 't' adds emphasis to the name. Herbert conveys a sense of tradition and determination – it appears down-to-earth, factual, and reliable.

When is the name day of Herbert?

The name days for Herbert are celebrated on March 16, May 25, August 30, and December 10.

Popularity

In Germany, the first name Herbert was widely used from the late 19th century and typically ranked between 20 and 35. From 1912, the name experienced a remarkable peak, reaching second place in 1914 and third place in 1918. It was also among the top group in 1926 (7th place) and 1929 (5th place). Until the early 1930s, it regularly remained in the top 15 to 25.

Nicknames & pet names

Bert / Berti / Bertl / Hebba / Hebbe / Hebbi / Hebie / Herb / Herbee / Herbertus / Herbi / Herbibert / HerbiHörb / Herbsi / Herby / Herpes / Herr Bert / Herribert / Häbbäd / Häbbät / Häbu / Hörb / Hörbi / Hörby / Schneckerl

Famous people

• Herbert Banks (football player from England)
• Herbert Brödl (writer from Austria)
• Herbert Brooks (ice hockey coach USA (legendary for Olympic victory 1980)
• Herbert Bruckmann (footballer from Germany)
• Herbert Dale (football player from England)
• Herbert Feuerstein (comedian)
• Herbert Frei (Bavarian actor)
• Herbert Fritsch (German actor)
• Herbert Gager (Austrian football coach)
• Herbert Gantschacher (Austrian writer)
• Herbert Grönemeyer (musician)
• Herbert Henry Gowen (American writer)
• Herbert Huber (Austrian skier)
• Herbert Janssen (German opera singer)
• Herbert Jarczyk (composer from Germany)
• Herbert Jehle (German physicist)
• Herbert John Ryser (mathematician from the USA)
• Herbert Knebel (fictional cabaret character)
• Herbert Köfer (German actor)
• Herbert Kuhner (Austrian writer)