Hervé

Summary

Hervé is a French masculine given name of Breton origin, from the name of the 6th-century Breton Saint Hervé. The common latinization of the name is Herveus, an early (8th-century) latinization was Charivius. Anglicized forms are Harvey and Hervey. Its Old Breton form was Huiarnviu, composed of the elements hoiarn and viu. Its common Celtic form would have been *isarno-biuos or *-ue(s)uos. Recorded Middle Breton forms of the name include Ehuarn, Ehouarn, Houarn. The name of the 6th-century saint is recorded in numerous variants, including forms such as: Houarniault, Houarneau; as the name of a legendary Breton bard, the name occurs in variants such as Hyvarnion, Huaruoé, Hoarvian.