Powell Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: POW-uhl //ˈpaʊ.əl//
Origin: English; Welsh
Meaning: English: son of Paul; Welsh: small
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Powell has its roots in the Welsh language, deriving from the Old Welsh personal name "Ap Hywel," which translates to "son of Hywel." The name Hywel itself is derived from the Proto-Celtic *kiwelo-, meaning "eminent" or "prominent." Over time, the name evolved, with "Ap" being replaced by the prefix "Powell," which became a surname in its own right. This transformation occurred as surnames began to be adopted in Wales and England during the Middle Ages, particularly from the 12th century onward, as a means of identifying individuals by their paternal lineage.
Historically, the name Powell has been associated with several notable figures. One of the earliest references can be traced back to the 13th century, when it was used by the Welsh nobility.
The name gained further prominence through the lineage of the Powells of Powys, a region in Wales, which contributed to its recognition in historical texts. Additionally, the name appears in various records and documents throughout the centuries, including the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is linked to landholdings in Wales.
The name also found its way into English-speaking contexts through migration and the influence of Welsh culture. Culturally, Powell carries connotations of strength and leadership, reflective of its etymological roots.
The name has been embraced in various forms, with diminutives such as "Pol" or "Powie" occasionally used in familial or informal contexts. Its historical significance is further underscored by its association with prominent individuals in politics, literature, and the arts, which has helped maintain its presence in cultural narratives.
Overall, Powell reflects a rich heritage that intertwines linguistic evolution with historical and cultural significance.
Fictional characters named Powell
The following list of fictional characters named Powell is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Powell is a fictional character from the novel The Martian by Andy Weir. He is a NASA flight director who plays a crucial role in the mission to rescue the stranded astronaut Mark Watney.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Powell, 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 Powell. 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 Powell was first seen in the United States in 1883.
Powell has ranked as high as #2490 nationally, which occurred in 1919, and has been most popular in Georgia, and Mississippi.
In the past 5 years the name Powell has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Powell 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 Powell was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
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 Powell.
| Year | Total Births | Boy | Girl |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 2024 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 2023 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 2022 | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| 2021 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 2020 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 2019 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 2018 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 2017 | 14 | 14 | 0 |
| 2016 | 17 | 11 | 6 |
| 2015 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 2014 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 2013 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 2012 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 2011 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 2010 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 2009 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 2008 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 2007 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 2006 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 2005 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 2004 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 2003 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 2002 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 2001 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 2000 | 14 | 14 | 0 |
| 1999 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1998 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1996 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1995 | 14 | 14 | 0 |
| 1994 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1991 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1990 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1989 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 1988 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1987 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1985 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1984 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1982 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1981 | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| 1978 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1977 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1975 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1974 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1973 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1972 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1970 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1969 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1968 | 14 | 14 | 0 |
| 1967 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 1966 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1965 | 13 | 13 | 0 |
| 1964 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1963 | 15 | 15 | 0 |
| 1962 | 17 | 17 | 0 |
| 1961 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1960 | 14 | 14 | 0 |
| 1959 | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| 1958 | 19 | 19 | 0 |
| 1957 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1956 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1955 | 15 | 15 | 0 |
| 1954 | 13 | 13 | 0 |
| 1953 | 14 | 14 | 0 |
| 1952 | 15 | 15 | 0 |
| 1951 | 13 | 13 | 0 |
| 1950 | 15 | 15 | 0 |
| 1949 | 13 | 13 | 0 |
| 1948 | 16 | 16 | 0 |
| 1947 | 20 | 20 | 0 |
| 1946 | 19 | 19 | 0 |
| 1945 | 22 | 22 | 0 |
| 1944 | 16 | 16 | 0 |
| 1943 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1942 | 21 | 21 | 0 |
| 1941 | 23 | 23 | 0 |
| 1940 | 19 | 19 | 0 |
| 1939 | 22 | 22 | 0 |
| 1938 | 21 | 21 | 0 |
| 1937 | 14 | 14 | 0 |
| 1936 | 19 | 19 | 0 |
| 1935 | 16 | 16 | 0 |
| 1934 | 16 | 16 | 0 |
| 1933 | 22 | 22 | 0 |
| 1932 | 20 | 20 | 0 |
| 1931 | 22 | 22 | 0 |
| 1930 | 21 | 21 | 0 |
| 1929 | 19 | 19 | 0 |
| 1928 | 24 | 24 | 0 |
| 1927 | 15 | 15 | 0 |
| 1926 | 18 | 18 | 0 |
| 1925 | 28 | 28 | 0 |
| 1924 | 24 | 24 | 0 |
| 1923 | 15 | 15 | 0 |
| 1922 | 22 | 22 | 0 |
| 1921 | 24 | 24 | 0 |
| 1920 | 19 | 19 | 0 |
| 1919 | 32 | 32 | 0 |
| 1918 | 28 | 28 | 0 |
| 1917 | 25 | 25 | 0 |
| 1916 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 1915 | 17 | 17 | 0 |
| 1914 | 19 | 19 | 0 |
| 1913 | 23 | 23 | 0 |
| 1912 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1910 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1909 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1908 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1907 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1904 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1903 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1902 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1901 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1899 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1897 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1896 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1892 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1891 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1890 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1888 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1883 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
Top States for Powell (1937)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| MS | 5 |