Herman

Herman is the English, Dutch, and Scandinavian variant of the old German name Hermann. The name carries the meaning 'the army man' or 'the war leader' and originates from the Old High German elements heri, meaning 'army, warrior,' and man, which stands for 'man.'

What does the name Herman mean?

Herman is the international form of the traditional German name Hermann and means 'the army man' or 'the war leader.' This meaning derives from the Old High German terms heri for 'army, warrior' and man for 'man.' Notable bearers of the name include Dutch musician Herman Brood, American writer and poet Herman Melville, and Dutch singer and writer Herman van Veen. Other variants of the name Hermann include Harm, Harman, Harmann, Harmen, Harms, Heerman, Hermo, Herms, and Herrmann, as well as the international forms Armand, Armando, Ermanno, Ermino, Hermando, Hermien, and Hermin. The feminine form is Hermine.

Where does the name Herman come from?

The etymology of Herman is of Old High German nature and means something like 'the army man' or 'the war leader.' The composition in Old High German consists of heri, which means 'army, warrior,' and man, which means 'man.' The name is common in several languages, including Danish, English, Dutch, Norwegian, Swedish, and generally Scandinavian.

How do you pronounce Herman?

The pronunciation of Herman is clear and two-syllable. In German, the name is usually pronounced as 'Her-man' [ˈhɛʁman]. The first syllable 'Her' has an open sound, while the 'r' gives the name a deeper note. The second syllable '-man' provides a solid base. The nasal ending gives the name a calm conclusion. Herman thus conveys a sense of tradition, objectivity, and stability - compact in form and clear in sound.

When is the name day of Herman?

The name day of Herman is celebrated on several dates: April 25, May 21, July 7, July 31, August 6, September 24, October 2, and December 28.

Popularity

In Germany, Herman is a widely used first name. Currently, it ranks 4,024th on the list of the most common male first names. Its best placement was in 2008, when it ranked 1,535th. In the last ten years, the name has been given about 50 times, placing it 3,301st in the ten-year statistics. From 2010 to 2024, Herman ranks 3,090th. Worldwide, Herman also enjoys a certain popularity.

Nicknames & pet names

Hermes / Hermi / Herms / Hermy / Hörmi / Hörms / Manni

Famous people

• Dr. Herman Einstein (Plastic Surgeon (from the play 'Arsenic and Old Lace'))
• Herman Amberg Preus (American writer)
• Herman Autrey (American jazz musician)
• Herman Bavinck (Dutch theologian)
• Herman Bemberg (Composer from France)
• Herman Bonnin (Actor from the Philippines)
• Herman Charles Bosman (Writer from South Africa)
• Herman Diederiks (Historian)
• Herman Fasching (Bishop from Austria)
• Herman Helleputte (Belgian footballer)
• Herman Hertzberger (Dutch architect)
• Herman Hugo (Belgian writer)
• Herman Laroche (Russian composer)
• Herman Louis Duhring (American architect)
• Herman Makkink (Artist from the USA)
• Herman Pines (Chemist from the USA)
• Herman Portocarero (German writer)
• Herman Rosenthal (American scholar)
• Herman Schultz (Astronomer from Sweden)
• Herman Steiner (American chess player)