Fun Facts About the Name Hershy
- More than 1 thousand babies named Hershy: U.S. records list 1,136 babies given the name Hershy from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Hershy Mean?
Hershy is a Yiddish-derived Jewish given name meaning "little deer" or "deer." It is an affectionate diminutive of Hersh (הירש), the Yiddish word for a stag or deer. Hersh descends from Middle High German hirz and Old High German hiruz, the same Germanic source as modern German Hirsch ("deer"). In Ashkenazi tradition, Hersh was often paired with the Hebrew name Tzvi (צְבִי), meaning "gazelle" or "deer," because the two names served as vernacular and sacred equivalents. The ending -y gives Hershy its diminutive or affectionate force; the name is therefore literally "little deer," though it is commonly treated simply as a traditional Jewish name in the deer/gazelle family.
Hershy Name History & Origins
The base name Hersh belongs to the Ashkenazi Jewish naming system, in which a Hebrew name and a Yiddish name could be held together. A boy with the Hebrew name Tzvi might be called Hersh in Yiddish, with Hershel (הערשל) or Hershy (הערשי) as diminutive everyday forms. The Yiddish Hersh comes from Middle High German hirz, "stag, deer," and ultimately from Old High German hiruz; it is cognate with German Hirsch. The form Hershel adds the Yiddish diminutive ending -l, while Hershy uses the ending -y, which can be understood as either a Yiddish affectionate suffix or an English spelling adaptation. As Ashkenazi Jews migrated to English-speaking countries in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, spellings such as Hershy became more common in English-language use.
How Popular is the Name Hershy?
Hershy has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2025. Its best rank was #1,981 in 2025.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #1,981 | 77 | 0.0045% |
| 2024 | #2,138 | 69 | 0.0040% |
| 2023 | #2,114 | 69 | 0.0040% |
| 2022 | #2,044 | 74 | 0.0042% |
| 2021 | #3,143 | 38 | 0.0022% |
| 2020 | #2,481 | 52 | 0.0030% |
| 2019 | #2,499 | 53 | 0.0030% |
| 2018 | #2,332 | 57 | 0.0031% |
| 2017 | #2,610 | 48 | 0.0026% |
| 2016 | #2,805 | 43 | 0.0023% |
| 2015 | #3,046 | 38 | 0.0020% |
| 2014 | #3,060 | 37 | 0.0019% |
| 2013 | #2,863 | 40 | 0.0021% |
| 2012 | #3,475 | 31 | 0.0016% |
| 2011 | #3,196 | 35 | 0.0018% |
| 2010 | #3,101 | 37 | 0.0019% |
| 2009 | #3,126 | 37 | 0.0019% |
| 2008 | #3,182 | 36 | 0.0018% |
| 2007 | #4,547 | 21 | 0.0010% |
| 2006 | #4,751 | 19 | 0.0009% |
| 2005 | #3,977 | 23 | 0.0012% |
| 2004 | #4,176 | 21 | 0.0011% |
| 2003 | #3,772 | 23 | 0.0012% |
| 2002 | #4,783 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 2001 | #4,020 | 20 | 0.0010% |
| 2000 | #4,658 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1999 | #4,219 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1998 | #3,633 | 20 | 0.0010% |
| 1997 | #4,769 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1996 | #8,316 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1995 | #6,612 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1994 | #5,223 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1993 | #8,017 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1992 | #8,934 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1989 | #8,377 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1983 | #4,279 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1978 | #5,341 | 6 | 0.0004% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Hershy Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You attract success and money. You are a lover of nature and do not need others for your happiness. You are self sufficient. You strive for material success and power and have business sense. You possess strong organizational abilities, can be a good manager, and executive by nature. You are capable of great achievement in business and finance. You have an eventful, exciting life. You are versatile and have the ability to learn easily.
You are always looking for an opportunity to achieve financial and emotional security. You are basically peacemaker. You understand the law of harmony and desire to balance your life with those around you. You may feel incomplete without someone to share your love, ideals, wealth or work. You can be very sensitive and could appear a bit shy and perceptive. You have developed intuition, patience and the ability to nurture others. You can achieve the state of happiness if you are willing to accept your needs in a complimentary relationship and go to create them.
✦ Hershy's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Hershy's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.