Howard
Literal root meaning: “high + guard”
About the name Howard
Howard is a boy name with Old Norse roots, literally “high + guard”.
It has a vintage, unique feel. In 2025, Howard ranked #1004 for boys in the US, with 226 babies given the name. Its peak year since 1940 was 1947. Since 2000, 100% of US babies named Howard were boys.
Etymology
From Old Norse, meaning “high” + “guard”.
Name meaning adapted from Wiktionary (“Howard”) by Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- US rank 2025
- #1004
- In 2015
- #1038
- Babies in 2025
- 226
Popularity of Howard, 1940–2025
Latest SSA data: 2025.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration national baby names (public domain; names given to at least 5 babies of one sex per year).
Nicknames for Howard
Names similar to Howard
Name meanings marked or linked “Wiktionary” are adapted from Wiktionary by Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; each name page links its source entry.