Total births
1,847
Boys' name · since 1899
Hershell
Since 1899, U.S. Social Security records show 1,847 babies named Hershell, peaking in 1920. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- 1,847
- total births
- 1899–1994
- years on record
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 21%
- born in that decade
Hershell is not among the current top-ranked boys names; 1,847 have been recorded since 1899.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Hershell has been recorded 1,847 times among boys since 1899, though it is not among the currently most-used boys names, with its heaviest use in the 1920s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1899 to 1994.
- 1,847 total births
- 1899–1994 years on record
- 1920s peak decade
- 21% born in that decade
Data updated Jul 2026
The verdict
1,847 boys have been named Hershell since 1899, peaking in the 1920s, last recorded in 1994.
- 1,847
- total births
- 1899–1994
- years on record
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 21%
- born in that decade
1920s
Peak decade
21% of everyone ever named Hershell was born in this single decade.
1920
Single peak year
45 babies were named Hershell in 1920 - its busiest year on record.
Hershell's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Splitting Hershell's full recorded timeline at 1946, 36% of its total births fall in the more recent half of the record versus 64% in the earlier half -- the name was more prevalent in its earlier era than it is today. Its quietest year on record was 1899, with just 5 recorded births -- worth weighing against the 1920 peak of 45 to see the full range of the name's swing in popularity.
Hershell at a glance
Last recorded 1994Peak year
1920
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1899
Hershell popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1899–1994
- Peak year (1920)
- 45
- Annual births at peak, across 96 years of records
Hershell by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1920s was Hershell's strongest decade.
380 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 21% of all-time use.
Hershell births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1890s 5
1890s
5 births
- 1900s 28
1900s
28 births
- 1910s
1910s
185 births
- 1920s
1920s
380 births
- 1930s
1930s
365 births
- 1940s
1940s
330 births
- 1950s
1950s
265 births
- 1960s 142
1960s
142 births
- 1970s 94
1970s
94 births
- 1980s 48
1980s
48 births
- 1990s 5
1990s
5 births
What this shows Peak: 1920s at 380 births (21% of all-time use).
How Hershell compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 boys names closest to Hershell's total volume
Hershell vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Hershell by state
Where Hershell concentrates geographically, total births since 1899
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Kentucky | | 137 | 7.4% |
| #2 | Tennessee | | 74 | 4.0% |
| #3 | Texas | | 64 | 3.5% |
| #4 | Oklahoma | | 60 | 3.2% |
| #5 | Alabama | | 55 | 3.0% |
| #6 | Arkansas | | 21 | 1.1% |
| #7 | Georgia | | 10 | 0.5% |
| #8 | Missouri | | 5 | 0.3% |
Kentucky share of Hershell's total US births 7.4%
Even split
137 of 1,847 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 8 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Hershell? ▼
1,847 babies have been named Hershell since 1899. It was last recorded in 1994. The peak year was 1920 with 45 births.
When was Hershell most popular? ▼
Hershell was most popular in the 1920s decade with 380 total births. The single peak year was 1920.
Where is Hershell most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Hershell are Kentucky (137 births), Tennessee (74 births), Texas (64 births).
How long has the name Hershell been used? ▼
Records for Hershell go back to 1899, giving 96 years of history through 1994.
What names are similar to Hershell? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Herbert, Herman, Herschel, Hershel, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Hershell's data
- Hershell's decade-level peak was the 1920s (380 total births); usage has since declined to 5 in the 1990s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- Kentucky records the most Hershells (137 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.
Keep exploring Hershell
Nearby Names Like Hershell
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Hershell
Herbert Boy
#2444 228,266 births
Herman Boy
#2637 135,977 births
Herschel Boy
#4892 10,674 births
Hershel Boy
#2675 10,329 births
Heriberto Boy
#2531 10,266 births
Compare Hershell side by side: Hershell vs Herbert Hershell vs Herman Hershell vs Herschel
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
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, 1899–1994 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Hershell: Baby Name Since 1899 - 1,847 Births, Peak 1920." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/hershell. 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 Hershell 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.