Howard
2025 SSA
Below 5 births
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 for boys#1004 US
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.
Howard for girls
Howard? For a girl? In the woolly new world of baby naming, stranger things have happened. One or two, anyway.
Pronounced HOW-erd.
As of October 2026, Howard ranked #1004 in US births in 2025 SSA, peaked at #24 in 1920, Nameberry popularity #618.
Popularity & trends
Data table
| Year | US rank · boys | Births · boys | US rank · girls | Births · girls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | #987 | 211 | — | 0 |
| 2015 | #1,038 | 194 | — | 0 |
| 2016 | #901 | 241 | — | 0 |
| 2017 | #999 | 203 | — | 0 |
| 2018 | #975 | 213 | — | 0 |
| 2019 | #984 | 216 | — | 0 |
| 2020 | #1,043 | 194 | — | 0 |
| 2021 | #939 | 241 | — | 0 |
| 2022 | #1,057 | 208 | — | 0 |
| 2023 | #1,004 | 219 | — | 0 |
| 2024 | #1,056 | 207 | — | 0 |
| 2025 | #1,004 | 226 | — | 0 |
World rankings
Howard for boys
Similar names
These 40 names were selected by our users looking for other names like Howard.
Similar boy names
Similar girl names
Howard on lists
Famous Howards
- Howard Allan SternBoy
American radio and TV personality
- Howard Kevin SternBoy
American attorney, reality TV personality, partner of model Anna Nicole Smith
- Howard Brush Dean IIIBoy
American politician, medical doctor, governor of Vermont
- Howard Dwaine "Howie D." DoroughBoy
American singer of the Backstreet Boys
- Howard CosellBoy
American sports broadcaster
- Howard Robard HughesBoy
Jr., American aviation pioneer and film mogul
- Howard Winchester HawksBoy
American film director
- Howard GoodallBoy
English musicologist
- Howard JuddBoy
American physician and medical researcher
- Howard Phillips "H.P." LovecraftBoy
American writer
- Howard "Howie" MandelBoy
Canadian comedian, actor, and TV host
- Howard BaileyBoy
Jr. aka Chingy, American rapper
- (Howard) Duane AllmanBoy
American guitarist and musician
- Howard Harold HansonBoy
American composer
- Harry Clifford "Howard" KeelBoy
American actor and singer
- Leo HowardBoy
american actor
- Howard ZinnBoy
American historian and activist
- Howard Melton WebbBoy
English football referee
- Howard Hoagland "Hoagy" CarmichaelBoy
American composer, pianist, singer, actor, and bandleader
- Kestin Howard aka LucariosKlawBoy
American voice actor and YouTuber
Howard in pop culture
- Howard Joel WolowitzBoy
character on TV's "The Big Bang Theory"
- Howard the DuckBoy
Marvel Comics character
- Howard BurleighBoy
character on TV's "Coach"
- HowardBoy
character in the movie "Reflections on a Crime"
- Howard StarkBoy
father of Tony Stark in the Iron Man series
- Howard UniversityBoy
school in Washington, D.C.
- Howard 'Howie' DeVilleBoy
father of Phil and Lil on "Rugrats"
- "Howard's EndBoy
" 1910 novel by E. M. Forster, and 1992 British romantic drama film based on the novel
- Howard SunderlyBoy
character in Frances Hardinge's novel 'The Lie Tree'
- Howard "Chimney" HanBoy
Character on ABC's "9-1-1"