Girl · #6,767 in 2026

Herma

A herma, commonly herm in English, is a sculpture with a head and perhaps a torso above a plain, usually squared lower section, on which male genitals may also be carved at the appropriate height. Hermae were so called either because the head of Hermes was most common or from their etymological connection with the Greek word ἕρματα, which originally had no reference to Hermes at all.

Current Rank
#6,767
Peak Rank
#1,360 (1918)
Total Babies
861
5-Yr Trend
Stable
1884
First Year
1964
Last Year
1918
Peak Year
#1360
Peak Rank
861
Total Count
66
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Herma

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

A herma, commonly herm in English, is a sculpture with a head and perhaps a torso above a plain, usually squared lower section, on which male genitals may also be carved at the appropriate height. Hermae were so called either because the head of Hermes was most common or from their etymological connection with the Greek word ἕρματα, which originally had no reference to Hermes at all.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

Origin & history
In the earliest times Greek divinities were worshipped in the form of a heap of stones or a shapeless column of stone or wood. In many parts of Greece there were piles of stones by the sides of roads, especially at their crossings, and on the boundaries of lands . The religious respect paid to such heaps of stones, especially at the meeting of roads, is shown by the custom of each passer-by throwing a stone on to the heap or anointing it with oil. Later there was the addition of a head and phallus to the column, which became quadrangular (the number four was sacred to Hermes ).

The Story of Herma

Herma first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby girl name in 1884, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1918, when 32 Hermas were born — ranking #1,360 that year. As of 2026, Herma ranks #6,767 for baby girls with 5 births, with steady use. In total, more than 861 Hermas have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1880s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

ME
WA
MT
ND
MN
WI
MI
NY
VT
NH
MA
OR
ID
SD
IA
IL
IN
OH
PA
NJ
CT
RI
CA
NV
WY
NE
MO
KY
WV
VA
MD
DE
DC
UT
CO
KS
AR
TN
NC
SC
AK
AZ
NM
OK
LA
MS
AL
GA
HI
TX
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Top 10
11-50
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101-500
500+
No data

Names that sound like Herma

Phonetically similar names — useful when Herma is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Herma

What does the name Herma mean?
A herma, commonly herm in English, is a sculpture with a head and perhaps a torso above a plain, usually squared lower section, on which male genitals may also be carved at the appropriate height. Hermae were so called either because the head of Hermes was most common or from their etymological connection with the Greek word ἕρματα, which originally had no reference to Hermes at all.
How popular is Herma in 2026?
In 2026, Herma ranks #6,767 among girls' names in the U.S., with 5 babies given the name that year.
When was Herma most popular?
Herma reached its peak popularity in 1918, ranking #1,360 that year with 32 babies given the name.
In which U.S. states is Herma most popular?
Herma has historically been most popular in Kentucky, Texas. Rankings vary year to year, but these states show the strongest concentration of births named Herma.
Is Herma a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Herma is primarily a girl's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a boy's name.
What names go well with Herma?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Herma include Leontine, Floris, Cattaleya. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

Similar Names

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Leontine
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Floris
Peak #1360
👧
Cattaleya
Peak #1360
👧
Renate
Peak #1361
👧
Nancee
Peak #1361
👧
Dineen
Peak #1361
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Shaye
Peak #1359
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Tammye
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About the name Herma

Herma is a girl baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1884 and has accumulated 861 births in the dataset. Herma's peak popularity came in 1918 when it ranked #1,360. Use the chart and map above to compare Herma's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

Data sources

  • Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
  • Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
  • Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
  • Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
  • Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .

Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.