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Nicknames for Herschel

Hersch, Hershey

Meanings and history of the name Herschel

Pet form of Hirsh, meaning stag. Yiddish form of the Hebrew Zvi/Tzvi. The stag is the symbol of the Israelite Tribe of Naphtali.

At least since the first decade of the 18th century, animal names which had not been used as given names in Biblical times (most of them being the names of large predators) are evident among the East European Yiddish-speaking Jewish communities.

Typically, bi-lingual names were used, the animal name appearing first in Hebrew (the Holy Language for these communities), often as companion name to the name of one of the Twelve Tribes, followed by the corresponding name (that is, having the same meaning) in Yiddish (the vernacular of daily life).

Famous real-life people named Herschel

Sir William Herschel, English astronomer who discovered Uranus.
Herschel "Guy" Beahm IV, American streamer and internet celebrity known as Dr DisRespect
Herschel Walker, American football player.
Herschell Gordon Lewis, American horror filmmaker.
Herschel Vespasian Johnson, former Governor of Georgia and the 1860 Democratic party vice-presidential nominee.

Herschel in song, story & screen

Herschel Krustofski is the real name of Krusty the Clown on The Simpsons.