Herve
Masculine · “worthy in battle”
Herve is the French and Breton Hervé written without its accent, the same old name that became Harvey in English. Two Frenchmen made it familiar to Americans, one on television and one in fashion.
How old is the name Herve?
Herve first appears in US birth records in 1911 — 114 years ago. The typical Herve alive today was born around 1930, making them about 95 years old. About 200 people named Herve are estimated to be alive in the US today.
When was the name Herve most popular?
Herve peaked in 1921, reaching #1509 nationally. See the whole 1921 chart.
Lists built from the same records:
Where it comes from
From Haerveu to Herve
The story of Herve
Hervé came from Brittany into French and, as Harvey, into English. Hervé Villechaize, a French-born actor, was Tattoo on Fantasy Island, ringing the bell and calling out to announce each week's arriving plane, and before that the villain's henchman Nick Nack in a James Bond film. Hervé Léger, a French designer, made the close-fitting bandage dress built from strips of stretch fabric, and his name became a label. American records usually drop the accent.
Meaningscholars disagree
worthy in battle, by the usual reading
Hervé comes from the Breton Haerveu, usually explained as battle-worthy; other readings of the Breton elements have been proposed. Harvey is the same name in English.
How the name formed
- Haerveu
- Hervé
- Herve
Related forms: Hervé · Houarn · Harvey
Pronouncing Herve
air-VAY
In French, two syllables with the stress at the end and a silent h. Without the accent, English readers may say HURV.
What the data says
146 years of official birth records
The long climb, and where it stands now
The same years in position rather than babies
- First recorded
- 1911
- Most boys named
- 192125 — the highest on record
- Peak rank
- #1509reached in 1921
- Change vs 2020
- +16.7%7 in 2023, from 6
Rank is a position, a count is a headcount, and they move independently — a name can hold its rank while the number of babies behind it falls. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration.
Herve in other languages
The same name elsewhere
- Hervé in French — same name
- Houarn in Breton — related form
- Harvey in English — same name
Herves among us
people named Herve are estimated to be alive in the US today
Estimated from SSA birth records and published actuarial life tables. Method
Is it right for you
Questions parents actually ask
Fashion outlook
Herve sits outside the current charts, and that is its own kind of answer: naming cycles can only date the names they carried up. A name this rare has no decade stamped on it — it cannot go out of fashion, because it was never in.
Based on 146 years of naming cycles. How we read them
The trade-off
- It is the same name as Harvey, with a French look.
- It is rare in America, so it stands out.
- Without the accent, most people will not know how to say it.
- Many will think of Fantasy Island first.
Nobody names a baby alone.
Put Herve to the vote.
Add it to a family vote or a couple’s swipe deck — the other person gets one card, a simple answer and room to say why. No app, no account for them.
Only the people you invite can see your list.
Already decided on Herve? Hide it among decoys and let them guess.
What they receive
Someone added a name to your list
Herve
Masculine
Frequently asked
- How many Herves are there in the world?
- No country counts the world's names, so there is no worldwide figure — anyone quoting one is estimating. About 200 people named Herve are estimated to be alive in the US today.
- How popular is the name Herve in 2025?
- Herve is rarely given in the US today — it does not rank in the top 2000 boy names.
- Will my child share the name Herve with classmates?
- Herve will almost certainly be the only one in school.
More H names
The most-given names starting with H, all years combined.
Henry#5 · Harold#991 · Harry#775 · Howard#1002 · Hunter#130 · Herbert#2641 · Herman#2363 · Harvey#251
Looking for what else is popular rather than what resembles Herve? See the current top 100.
Choosing between Herve and another name?
See them side by side — full stats, history and a gentle verdict.
Compare side by sideIn a hurry? Just pick a winner — one tap, no sign-up, and you see how everyone else voted.
Weighing a whole shortlist? Add the rest in the builder, or settle it with a bracket.
Cast your vote
Which one would you pick?
Your gut first, the numbers after — the split shows once you pick.
US figures from the Social Security Administration. 1880–2025. Data & methodology
No advertising trackers and no data sellinghow we handle your dataindependent and founder-run, about Name Battle