Girls' name · since 1884

Herma

Herma has 861 recorded births since 1884 in federal Social Security data, most heavily in 1918 -- full year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state rankings follow.

861
total births
1884–1964
years on record
1920s
peak decade
24%
born in that decade

Herma is not among the current top-ranked girls names; 861 have been recorded since 1884.

Social Security Administration records show Herma recorded 861 times among girls since 1884, though it doesn't currently rank among the most-used girls names, peaking in the 1920s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1884 to 1964.

  • 861 total births
  • 1884–1964 years on record
  • 1920s peak decade
  • 24% born in that decade

Data updated Jul 2026

The verdict

861 girls have been named Herma since 1884, peaking in the 1920s, last recorded in 1964.

861
total births
1884–1964
years on record
1920s
peak decade
24%
born in that decade
1920s
Peak decade

24% of everyone ever named Herma was born in this single decade.

1918
Single peak year

32 babies were named Herma in 1918 - its busiest year on record.

Herma's usage pattern, beyond the headline number

Divide Herma's SSA record in two at 1926 and the more recent half accounts for 49% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 51%, a genuinely balanced usage pattern. Its calmest year was 1884, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1918 peak of 32, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.

Herma at a glance

Last recorded 1964

Total births

861

Since 1884

81 years of records

Peak year

1918

32 births that year

Strongest decade: 1920s

Current rank

Unranked

Outside the modern top-1,000

As of 1964

Active since

1884

Recorded for 81 years

Last year on file: 1964

Herma popularity over time

Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1884–1964

Last recorded 1964
Peak year (1918)
32
Annual births at peak, across 81 years of records
010203040 188419011911192019291938194719571964 5

Herma by decade

Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance

1920s was Herma's strongest decade.

209 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 24% of all-time use.

Herma births by decade

Total births in each ten-year window

births

What this shows Peak: 1920s at 209 births (24% of all-time use).

Source U.S. Social Security Administration · Baby Names As of July 2026

How Herma compares to similarly-sized names

Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 girls names closest to Herma's total volume

Herma vs 15 similarly-sized girls names

Herma vs 15 similarly-sized girls names Scatter plot of 16 data points. 0%5%10%15%20%25% 050100150 New & already peakedOld name, single-era peakNew & still diversifyingLong history, steady all along Years in SSA records % of total births in the single peak year Herma
Herma vs 15 similarly-sized girls names

Herma by state

Where Herma concentrates geographically, total births since 1884

Geographically diffuse
Top 2 states by recorded births for the name Herma
Rank State Visual share Births Share of total
#1 Kentucky
52 6.0%
#2 Texas
5 0.6%
Kentucky share of Herma's total US births 6.0%
Even split

52 of 861 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 2 reporting states.

Frequently Asked Questions

How popular is the name Herma?
Since 1884, Social Security records show 861 babies named Herma. The most recent recorded year was 1964. Its busiest year on record was 1918, with 32 births.
When was Herma most popular?
Herma was most popular in the 1920s decade with 209 total births. The single peak year was 1918.
Where is Herma most popular?
The top states for the name Herma are Kentucky (52 births), Texas (5 births).
How long has the name Herma been used?
Records for Herma go back to 1884, giving 81 years of history through 1964.
What names are similar to Herma?
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Herlinda, Herminia, Hermelinda, Hermione, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for girls.

What to do with Herma's data

  • Herma's decade-level peak was the 1920s (209 total births); usage has since declined to 5 in the 1960s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
  • Kentucky records the most Hermas (52 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Kentucky names
  • Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names

Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.

Data Sources

Data as of July 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).

According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.

Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1884–1964 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).

State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).

Cite this page

NameAlmanac Editorial. "Herma: Baby Name Since 1884 - 861 Births, Peak 1918." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/herma. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Herma draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of July 2026.