Howell Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: HOW-uhl //ˈhaʊ.əl//
Origin: Welsh; English
Meaning: Welsh: 'eminent' or 'prominent'; English: 'dweller by the hill'
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Howell has its roots in the Welsh language, deriving from the Old Welsh personal name "Hywel," which is believed to mean "eminent" or "conspicuous." The name Hywel is composed of the elements "hy" meaning "good" or "well," and "gwell" which can be interpreted as "to be better." The transition of the name into English occurred through the Norman influence in the 11th century, as the Normans brought many Welsh names into common usage in England, particularly in regions with strong Welsh connections. Historically, the name Howell is notably associated with Hywel Dda, a significant figure in Welsh history who ruled in the 10th century.
He is remembered for his contributions to the codification of Welsh law and governance, which had a lasting impact on Welsh identity and culture. The name also appears in various historical texts and documents, including the Laws of Hywel Dda, which were compiled around the year 950.
This legal framework is considered one of the earliest examples of written law in Britain and reflects the importance of the name in Welsh heritage. Culturally, Howell has been embraced in various forms within Welsh tradition, often symbolizing leadership and wisdom.
The name has also been used in literature and folklore, reinforcing its significance in Welsh culture. Diminutive forms such as "Howie" have emerged, though they are less prominent historically.
The enduring legacy of Howell is tied to its historical roots and the cultural resonance it holds within Welsh society, reflecting a lineage of respect and prominence that has persisted through the centuries.
Famous people named Howell
In this section, you will find notable people named Howell. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Howell who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Howell who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Howell Raines is a journalist best known for his work as editor of The New York Times, author of The One That Got Away, and his commentary on American politics.
Howell H. McCall is a businessman best known for founding the McCall Pattern Company, known for sewing patterns and fashion design.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Howell, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Howell. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Howell was first seen in the United States in 1880.
Howell has ranked as high as #797 nationally, which occurred in 1920, and has been most popular in Georgia, Texas, Tennessee, Alabama, and North Carolina.
In the past 5 years the name Howell has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Howell is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Howell was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Howell (1971)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| GA | 5 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Howell.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 11 |
| 2023 | 10 |
| 2022 | 9 |
| 2021 | 9 |
| 2020 | 14 |
| 2019 | 6 |
| 2017 | 5 |
| 2015 | 7 |
| 2013 | 5 |
| 2012 | 7 |
| 2011 | 6 |
| 2008 | 7 |
| 2005 | 10 |
| 2003 | 8 |
| 2001 | 11 |
| 2000 | 9 |
| 1997 | 6 |
| 1996 | 5 |
| 1993 | 10 |
| 1992 | 6 |
| 1991 | 6 |
| 1990 | 13 |
| 1989 | 7 |
| 1988 | 10 |
| 1987 | 5 |
| 1986 | 5 |
| 1985 | 7 |
| 1984 | 7 |
| 1983 | 9 |
| 1982 | 10 |
| 1981 | 10 |
| 1980 | 8 |
| 1979 | 13 |
| 1978 | 14 |
| 1977 | 6 |
| 1976 | 10 |
| 1975 | 12 |
| 1974 | 12 |
| 1973 | 13 |
| 1972 | 14 |
| 1971 | 26 |
| 1970 | 18 |
| 1969 | 19 |
| 1968 | 21 |
| 1967 | 20 |
| 1966 | 31 |
| 1965 | 26 |
| 1964 | 42 |
| 1963 | 26 |
| 1962 | 36 |
| 1961 | 36 |
| 1960 | 33 |
| 1959 | 44 |
| 1958 | 52 |
| 1957 | 45 |
| 1956 | 56 |
| 1955 | 48 |
| 1954 | 59 |
| 1953 | 44 |
| 1952 | 57 |
| 1951 | 61 |
| 1950 | 74 |
| 1949 | 56 |
| 1948 | 51 |
| 1947 | 63 |
| 1946 | 57 |
| 1945 | 50 |
| 1944 | 48 |
| 1943 | 66 |
| 1942 | 47 |
| 1941 | 57 |
| 1940 | 61 |
| 1939 | 68 |
| 1938 | 56 |
| 1937 | 61 |
| 1936 | 67 |
| 1935 | 55 |
| 1934 | 67 |
| 1933 | 62 |
| 1932 | 61 |
| 1931 | 59 |
| 1930 | 51 |
| 1929 | 46 |
| 1928 | 61 |
| 1927 | 80 |
| 1926 | 73 |
| 1925 | 79 |
| 1924 | 78 |
| 1923 | 80 |
| 1922 | 65 |
| 1921 | 75 |
| 1920 | 93 |
| 1919 | 63 |
| 1918 | 66 |
| 1917 | 74 |
| 1916 | 69 |
| 1915 | 68 |
| 1914 | 56 |
| 1913 | 43 |
| 1912 | 28 |
| 1911 | 20 |
| 1910 | 13 |
| 1909 | 15 |
| 1908 | 8 |
| 1907 | 11 |
| 1906 | 8 |
| 1905 | 14 |
| 1904 | 6 |
| 1903 | 7 |
| 1902 | 9 |
| 1901 | 10 |
| 1900 | 14 |
| 1899 | 13 |
| 1898 | 8 |
| 1897 | 9 |
| 1896 | 9 |
| 1895 | 16 |
| 1894 | 13 |
| 1892 | 9 |
| 1891 | 9 |
| 1890 | 11 |
| 1889 | 8 |
| 1888 | 7 |
| 1887 | 9 |
| 1886 | 8 |
| 1885 | 8 |
| 1884 | 12 |
| 1883 | 10 |
| 1882 | 11 |
| 1881 | 6 |
| 1880 | 14 |