UK boy's name
Herve
Herve is a masculine French name derived from the Old German name Heriwald, meaning "army ruler".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2007. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Herve is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Herve popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2007 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4333, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2007, with 3 births.
This profile covers 3 England and Wales registrations across 1 recorded years from 2007 to 2007. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
Herve is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 3 living people in the UK are called Herve. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2008 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Herve ranked #4333 for boys in England and Wales in 2007, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2007, when 3 boys were registered as Herve.
- • About 3 living people in the UK are estimated to have Herve as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4333
2007
Births in 2007
3
Latest year
Peak year
2007
3 births
Estimated living
3
2026
Meaning
What does Herve mean?
The name Herve is of French origin, derived from the Germanic name Heribert, which is composed of the elements "heri" meaning army and "beraht" meaning bright or illustrious. It was popular during the Middle Ages in France and other parts of Europe.
The earliest recorded use of the name dates back to the 7th century, with Saint Herve (c. 650-706), a Breton abbot and founder of the Abbey of Noblac in central France. He was known for his ascetic lifestyle and missionary work among the local population.
Another notable bearer of the name was Herve IV, Count of Nevers (c. 1055-1098), a French nobleman who participated in the First Crusade and was present at the siege of Antioch in 1098. He was known for his bravery and military prowess.
In the 12th century, Herve d'Avranches (c. 1115-1189) was a renowned French theologian and philosopher who taught at the University of Paris and was known for his commentaries on the works of Aristotle.
The name also appeared in literary works, such as the 13th-century French chanson de geste "Huon de Bordeaux," where one of the characters is named Herve.
Another notable figure was Herve de Donjon (c. 1280-1349), a French architect and engineer who was responsible for the construction of several fortifications and castles in Normandy, including the Château de Loches.
During the Renaissance period, Herve Lohier (c. 1508-1572) was a French lawyer and humanist scholar who served as a royal counselor and ambassador for King Henry II of France.
These are just a few examples of the historical figures who bore the name Herve, demonstrating its long-standing presence in French and European culture throughout the centuries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Decades
Herve by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Herve was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | #4333 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Herve
- Harry 141,693
- Henry 65,177
- Harrison 45,958
- Harvey 35,648
- Harley 22,095
- Hugo 18,779
- Hayden 12,622
- Hunter 10,350
- Hudson 9,104
- Hamza 8,564
- Hassan 5,982
- Hasan 3,599
FAQ
Herve: questions and answers
How popular is the name Herve in the UK right now?
In 2007, Herve was ranked #4333 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Herve most popular?
The peak year on record was 2007, with 3 babies registered as Herve in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Herve?
Herve is a masculine French name derived from the Old German name Heriwald, meaning "army ruler".
How many people are called Herve in the UK?
A total of 3 babies have been registered as Herve across the 1 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.