Herman

Herman is a masculine given name of Germanic origin, used in English, Dutch, German, and other languages. It derives from elements meaning army or warrior and man, typically interpreted as “army man” or “warrior.” The German form is Hermann (with double n); in Dutch and English the form is usually Herman. The name has also become a surname in various cultures, including Dutch and Ashkenazi Jewish communities.

Throughout its history, Herman has been common in Central and Western Europe and later in the Americas. In the Netherlands and Flanders it remains widely used as a given name; in the United States it was particularly popular in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The name has produced numerous bearers across politics, literature, science, and the arts, contributing to its long-standing presence in Western naming traditions.

Notable people named Herman include Herman Melville, the American novelist best known for Moby-Dick; Herman Wouk, the American author of historical fiction and plays; Herman Hollerith, inventor of the tabulating machine and a founder of what became IBM; Herman Cain, American businessman and politician; Herman Daly, American ecological economist; and Herman van Rompuy, Belgian statesman who served as President of the European Council. Variants and related forms exist in other languages, such as Hermann in German and Hermen in Dutch. The name remains in occasional use today, often in honor of historical bearers.