From Greek 'eremites' meaning solitary one or desert dweller, one who lives in seclusion.
Hermit comes from the Greek eremites, meaning solitary one or desert dweller. As a word-name, it has a directness that is almost ascetic, and that gives it a very different character from most personal names.
The meaning evokes withdrawal, contemplation, and a life apart from the crowd. That association makes Hermit feel stark but memorable. It is not a decorative choice; it is a name that carries an idea with unusual literalness.
Historically, the word has strong religious and philosophical overtones, especially in Christian traditions of retreat and spiritual discipline. As a name, it feels uncommon to the point of being distinctive, and that rarity is part of what gives it its austere charm.