Howard
About Howard
Howard, once hugely popular in the Top 50 from the 1870s to early 1950s, hitting Number 24 in 1920 -- has been stuck in Dad-Grandad limbo for decades, but is showing some signs of stirring back to life. Along with such formerly-fusty names as George and Harold, Howard may soon feel baby-appropriate, perhaps with the short form Ward, or the clunky-cute Howie.
Howard was the surname of an early English noble family, gradually metamorphosing into a first name in the nineteenth century. Derived from either the Germanic Hughard meaning "high guardian", the Old Norse Hávarðr meaning "brave heart", or perhaps even the Middle English term for a sheep herder.
Notable Howards include tycoon Howard Hughes, director Howard Hawks, politician Howard Dean, and media figure Howard Stern. In literature, there is Ayn Rand's iconic architect Howard Roark, protagonist of The Fountainhead.
Strange trivia item: Vampire novelist Anne Rice's given name is Howard Allen. She has said her mother "had the idea that naming a woman Howard was going to give that woman an unusual advantage in the world."
Given to 226 boys in a recent year, Howard might appeal to those looking for alternatives to Edward, an unexpected way to nickname Hal, or something similar in style to Stanley, Rufus, and Bernard.
As of October 2026, Howard ranked #1004 in US births in 2025 SSA, peaked at #24 in 1920, Nameberry popularity #352.
Editor's take: The name Howard is a boy's name of German origin meaning "high guardian; brave heart".
Popularity & trends
Data table
| Year | US rank | Births | Per million |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | #987 | 211 | 109.8 |
| 2015 | #1,038 | 194 | 101.2 |
| 2016 | #901 | 241 | 127 |
| 2017 | #999 | 203 | 109.7 |
| 2018 | #975 | 213 | 117.3 |
| 2019 | #984 | 216 | 120.4 |
| 2020 | #1,043 | 194 | 112.4 |
| 2021 | #939 | 241 | 137.8 |
| 2022 | #1,057 | 208 | 119.1 |
| 2023 | #1,004 | 219 | 128 |
| 2024 | #1,056 | 207 | 120.1 |
| 2025 | #1,004 | 226 | 132.3 |
World rankings
Similar names
These 20 names were selected by our users looking for other names like Howard.
- Roger
- Arnold
- Norman
- Reginald
- Gordon
- Harold
- Douglas
- Clifford
- Marvin
- Phinneas
- Fred
- Melvin
- Roy
- Stanley
- Bernard
- Guy
- Gilbert
- Stanford
- Moses
- Ned
Howard on lists
Famous Howards
- Howard Allan Stern
American radio and TV personality
- Howard Kevin Stern
American attorney, reality TV personality, partner of model Anna Nicole Smith
- Howard Brush Dean III
American politician, medical doctor, governor of Vermont
- Howard Dwaine "Howie D." Dorough
American singer of the Backstreet Boys
- Howard Cosell
American sports broadcaster
- Howard Robard Hughes
Jr., American aviation pioneer and film mogul
- Howard Winchester Hawks
American film director
- Howard Goodall
English musicologist
- Howard Judd
American physician and medical researcher
- Howard Phillips "H.P." Lovecraft
American writer
- Howard "Howie" Mandel
Canadian comedian, actor, and TV host
- Howard Bailey
Jr. aka Chingy, American rapper
- (Howard) Duane Allman
American guitarist and musician
- Howard Harold Hanson
American composer
- Harry Clifford "Howard" Keel
American actor and singer
- Leo Howard
american actor
- Howard Zinn
American historian and activist
- Howard Melton Webb
English football referee
- Howard Hoagland "Hoagy" Carmichael
American composer, pianist, singer, actor, and bandleader
- Kestin Howard aka LucariosKlaw
American voice actor and YouTuber
Howard in pop culture
- Howard Joel Wolowitz
character on TV's "The Big Bang Theory"
- Howard the Duck
Marvel Comics character
- Howard Burleigh
character on TV's "Coach"
- Howard
character in the movie "Reflections on a Crime"
- Howard Stark
father of Tony Stark in the Iron Man series
- Howard University
school in Washington, D.C.
- Howard 'Howie' DeVille
father of Phil and Lil on "Rugrats"
- "Howard's End
" 1910 novel by E. M. Forster, and 1992 British romantic drama film based on the novel
- Howard Sunderly
character in Frances Hardinge's novel 'The Lie Tree'
- Howard "Chimney" Han
Character on ABC's "9-1-1"