Howard
Howard: name meaning, origin and popularity
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈhaʊɚd/ · /ˈhaʊəd/
Meaning and origin of Howard
Root meaning: “high”
- A male given name from the Germanic languages, transferred back from the surname. Short form: Howie.
Etymology
Medieval personal name from Middle English Howard, Howarde, from Old Norse Hávarðr, from hár (“high”) + varðr (“guard”). In some cases a variant of Heward, from Old French Huard.
How popular is Howard?
Since 1880, 1,676 girls and 346,666 boys in the U.S. have been named Howard (0% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #988 in 1888. Its highest rank for boys was #24 in 1919. In 2025, 226 babies were given the name, outside the top 1,000.
Names similar to Howard
Names that start with the same letters, most popular first.
More Germanic boy names
Sibling name ideas for Howard
Sister and brother names that share Howard's Germanic roots and are still in the U.S. top 1,000.
Howard FAQ
What does the name Howard mean?
Howard traces back to a root meaning "high". A male given name from the Germanic languages, transferred back from the surname. Short form: Howie. Medieval personal name from Middle English Howard, Howarde, from Old Norse Hávarðr, from hár (“high”) + varðr (“guard”). In some cases a variant of Heward, from Old French Huard.
What is the origin of the name Howard?
Howard is listed as a name of Germanic origin.
How popular is the name Howard?
Since 1880, 1,676 girls and 346,666 boys in the U.S. have been named Howard (0% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #988 in 1888. Its highest rank for boys was #24 in 1919. In 2025, 226 babies were given the name, outside the top 1,000.
Is Howard a boy or girl name?
Howard is mostly a boy name in the U.S.: 1,676 girls and 346,666 boys since 1880.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880–2025 (names given to 5+ babies per year). Origin and etymology text: Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.