Howard Boy

Popularity: #718 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Origin(s)

PronunciationHOW-ard / /ˈhaʊ.ərd/

Old English; German

Meaning

Old English: high guardian; German: brave heart

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Howard has its roots in Old English, where it was derived from the elements 'high' and 'ward,' meaning guardian. It became popular in England during the Middle Ages and has been borne by various notable figures throughout history. The name has also been associated with several noble families, particularly in England. In modern times, it remains a classic name with a steady presence in various cultures.

Trend Summary

Howard has seen a decline in popularity in the United States since the mid-20th century.

Similar Names

HaroldHectorHarlanHollisHendrickHughHarris

Variants

  • Howie
  • Hugh

International Variants

  • Huw (Welsh)
  • Oward (Old English)

Famous people named Howard

Howard Hughes was an American business magnate, investor, and aviator known for his contributions to aviation and film.

Howard Stern is a well-known American radio and television personality, famous for his controversial style and interviews.

Howard Carter was a British archaeologist who is best known for discovering the tomb of Tutankhamun in 1922.

Howard Ashman was an American playwright and lyricist, recognized for his work on Disney animated films such as 'The Little Mermaid' and 'Beauty and the Beast.'.

Fictional characters named Howard

Howard Wolowitz is a character from the television series 'The Big Bang Theory,' known for his quirky personality and engineering skills.

Howard the Duck is a Marvel Comics character who appears in various comic series and films, often portrayed as a satirical take on superhero tropes.

Sibling Suggestions

HenryHarrisonHannahHazelHollyHugo

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Howard was first seen in the United States in 1880. Howard has ranked as high as #57 nationally, which occurred in 1921, and has been most popular in New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois, and California. In the past 5 years the name Howard has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

Top States for Howard (2024)

StateBirthsShare
TX 14
9%
CA 13
9%
MI 12
8%
MN 12
8%
WI 10
7%
GA 9
6%
NY 9
6%
IL 9
6%
UT 7
5%
MO 7
5%
NC 7
5%
WA 6
4%
FL 6
4%
OH 6
4%
MA 6
4%

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

YearBirths
1880357
1881359
1882422
1883429
1884432
1885438
1886467
1887429
1888513
1889503
1890501
1891485
1892548
1893556
1894612
1895641
1896677
1897634
1898706
1899589
1900779
1901584
1902632
1903636
1904726
1905735
1906803
1907875
19081,078
19091,166
19101,309
19111,467
19123,212
19133,663
19144,490
19156,103
19166,171
19176,410
19186,928
19196,843
19207,466
19217,713
19227,296
19237,157
19247,372
19257,171
19266,836
19276,831
19286,496
19296,010
19306,342
19315,623
19325,292
19334,995
19345,068
19354,970
19364,874
19374,700
19385,018
19394,613
19404,824
19415,068
19425,570
19435,739
19445,025
19454,768
19465,694
19476,061
19485,497
19495,284
19505,165
19515,108
19525,244
19534,985
19544,933
19554,747
19564,706
19574,615
19584,364
19593,988
19603,824
19613,571
19623,275
19633,160
19643,061
19652,678
19662,545
19672,285
19682,156
19692,146
19701,996
19711,837
19721,492
19731,351
19741,208
19751,166
19761,032
19771,017
1978957
1979927
1980925
1981855
1982795
1983727
1984674
1985677
1986600
1987626
1988614
1989559
1990572
1991495
1992464
1993416
1994374
1995358
1996305
1997324
1998330
1999277
2000270
2001290
2002266
2003258
2004235
2005229
2006243
2007241
2008229
2009216
2010229
2011207
2012203
2013194
2014211
2015194
2016241
2017203
2018213
2019216
2020194
2021241
2022208
2023219
2024207