Fun Facts About the Name Howard
- An all-time favorite: U.S. records show 346,670 boys named Howard from 1880 through 2025.
- Decades of popularity: Howard stayed in the U.S. top 100 for 79 consecutive years, from 1880 through 1958.
- More than 348 thousand babies named Howard: U.S. records list 348,346 babies given the name Howard from 1880 through 2025. Even 1,676 girls received the name Howard - about 1 girl for every 207 boys.
What Does the Name Howard Mean?
Howard is an English masculine name used as a given name from the English surname Howard. The surname is usually explained as coming from the Norman personal name Huard, which goes back to the ancient Germanic name Hugihard. That name is formed from hugu, meaning "mind, spirit, heart," and hard, meaning "brave, hardy," so its literal sense is often given as "brave heart" or "strong spirit." A second common derivation connects Howard to the Old Norse personal name Hávarðr, composed of hár, "high," and varðr, "guardian, defender," meaning "high guardian." The exact origin of the English surname is not certain, and families that used it may not all share a single root.
Howard Name History & Origins
The name Howard is first and foremost an English surname. It is found in medieval England, and by the 15th century the Howard family had risen to high rank in the nobility. John Howard was created Duke of Norfolk in 1483, and the Howard dukes of Norfolk have held that title, with interruptions, since that time. The surname's medieval forms reflect the mixed linguistic history of England, which is why both a Norman-Germanic explanation and an Old Norse explanation are proposed.
As a first name, Howard is a transferred use of the surname. It was in use as a given name in the English-speaking world by the 19th century. Later bearers include Howard Carter (1874 - 1939), the archaeologist who led the excavation of Tutankhamun's tomb, and Howard Hughes (1905 - 1976), the aviator and businessman. The name also appears in literature: in E. M. Forster's novel Howards End (1910), it belongs to a house, and in Ayn Rand's The Fountainhead (1943), the protagonist is Howard Roark.
How Popular is the Name Howard?
Howard remained among the top 100 boy names in the U.S. from 1880 to 1958. Its highest annual birth count was in 1921, and people born that year turn 105 in 2026.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | #10,322 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1986 | #9,977 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1985 | #9,736 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1984 | #7,000 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1982 | #5,325 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 1981 | #9,506 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1980 | #6,459 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1979 | #8,344 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1978 | #7,189 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1977 | #5,029 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 1976 | #4,992 | 12 | 0.0008% |
| 1975 | #4,222 | 15 | 0.0010% |
| 1974 | #6,455 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1973 | #3,686 | 17 | 0.0012% |
| 1972 | #4,162 | 14 | 0.0009% |
| 1971 | #5,252 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1970 | #3,482 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1969 | #3,677 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 1968 | #3,501 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 1967 | #3,923 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1966 | #3,629 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 1965 | #3,311 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1964 | #4,195 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1963 | #3,691 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1962 | #3,874 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1961 | #2,779 | 20 | 0.0010% |
| 1960 | #3,419 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1959 | #3,690 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1958 | #3,150 | 15 | 0.0007% |
| 1957 | #3,082 | 15 | 0.0007% |
| 1956 | #2,862 | 17 | 0.0008% |
| 1955 | #2,363 | 22 | 0.0011% |
| 1954 | #2,734 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1953 | #2,197 | 23 | 0.0012% |
| 1952 | #3,096 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1951 | #3,363 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1950 | #3,130 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1949 | #3,479 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1948 | #3,706 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1947 | #2,161 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 1946 | #3,801 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1945 | #1,770 | 23 | 0.0018% |
| 1944 | #2,238 | 16 | 0.0012% |
| 1943 | #1,919 | 21 | 0.0015% |
| 1942 | #1,938 | 20 | 0.0015% |
| 1941 | #2,304 | 14 | 0.0012% |
| 1940 | #2,825 | 10 | 0.0009% |
| 1939 | #1,329 | 31 | 0.0028% |
| 1938 | #2,054 | 16 | 0.0015% |
| 1937 | #1,655 | 22 | 0.0021% |
| 1936 | #1,305 | 31 | 0.0030% |
| 1935 | #1,809 | 19 | 0.0018% |
| 1934 | #1,626 | 22 | 0.0021% |
| 1933 | #1,273 | 32 | 0.0032% |
| 1932 | #1,279 | 33 | 0.0031% |
| 1931 | #1,269 | 33 | 0.0031% |
| 1930 | #1,005 | 54 | 0.0048% |
| 1929 | #1,083 | 46 | 0.0041% |
| 1928 | #999 | 56 | 0.0049% |
| 1927 | #1,207 | 42 | 0.0035% |
| 1926 | #1,061 | 50 | 0.0042% |
| 1925 | #1,111 | 48 | 0.0039% |
| 1924 | #1,156 | 46 | 0.0037% |
| 1923 | #1,313 | 36 | 0.0030% |
| 1922 | #1,215 | 41 | 0.0034% |
| 1921 | #1,318 | 36 | 0.0029% |
| 1920 | #1,146 | 44 | 0.0037% |
| 1919 | #1,498 | 28 | 0.0025% |
| 1918 | #1,223 | 38 | 0.0033% |
| 1917 | #1,248 | 34 | 0.0031% |
| 1916 | #1,344 | 30 | 0.0029% |
| 1915 | #1,381 | 27 | 0.0027% |
| 1914 | #1,243 | 25 | 0.0033% |
| 1913 | #1,289 | 20 | 0.0032% |
| 1912 | #1,230 | 19 | 0.0034% |
| 1911 | #2,314 | 6 | 0.0014% |
| 1909 | #1,527 | 9 | 0.0026% |
| 1908 | #2,257 | 5 | 0.0015% |
| 1906 | #1,829 | 6 | 0.0020% |
| 1905 | #1,207 | 11 | 0.0038% |
| 1904 | #1,756 | 6 | 0.0022% |
| 1901 | #1,792 | 5 | 0.0021% |
| 1900 | #2,056 | 5 | 0.0017% |
| 1899 | #1,713 | 5 | 0.0021% |
| 1898 | #1,594 | 6 | 0.0023% |
| 1891 | #1,411 | 5 | 0.0027% |
| 1890 | #1,046 | 8 | 0.0042% |
| 1888 | #988 | 8 | 0.0045% |
| 1887 | #1,214 | 5 | 0.0034% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #1,004 | 226 | 0.0132% |
| 2024 | #1,056 | 207 | 0.0121% |
| 2023 | #1,004 | 219 | 0.0128% |
| 2022 | #1,057 | 208 | 0.0119% |
| 2021 | #939 | 241 | 0.0138% |
| 2020 | #1,043 | 194 | 0.0112% |
| 2019 | #984 | 216 | 0.0120% |
| 2018 | #975 | 213 | 0.0117% |
| 2017 | #999 | 203 | 0.0110% |
| 2016 | #901 | 241 | 0.0127% |
| 2015 | #1,038 | 194 | 0.0101% |
| 2014 | #987 | 211 | 0.0110% |
| 2013 | #1,008 | 194 | 0.0103% |
| 2012 | #986 | 203 | 0.0107% |
| 2011 | #959 | 207 | 0.0109% |
| 2010 | #895 | 229 | 0.0119% |
| 2009 | #942 | 216 | 0.0109% |
| 2008 | #907 | 229 | 0.0112% |
| 2007 | #862 | 241 | 0.0116% |
| 2006 | #837 | 243 | 0.0118% |
| 2005 | #823 | 229 | 0.0115% |
| 2004 | #775 | 235 | 0.0118% |
| 2003 | #718 | 258 | 0.0131% |
| 2002 | #685 | 266 | 0.0137% |
| 2001 | #644 | 290 | 0.0149% |
| 2000 | #664 | 270 | 0.0137% |
| 1999 | #638 | 277 | 0.0144% |
| 1998 | #586 | 330 | 0.0173% |
| 1997 | #572 | 324 | 0.0172% |
| 1996 | #589 | 305 | 0.0161% |
| 1995 | #532 | 358 | 0.0188% |
| 1994 | #523 | 374 | 0.0194% |
| 1993 | #499 | 416 | 0.0212% |
| 1992 | #466 | 464 | 0.0232% |
| 1991 | #444 | 495 | 0.0245% |
| 1990 | #403 | 572 | 0.0278% |
| 1989 | #392 | 559 | 0.0279% |
| 1988 | #344 | 614 | 0.0321% |
| 1987 | #330 | 626 | 0.0335% |
| 1986 | #331 | 600 | 0.0326% |
| 1985 | #302 | 677 | 0.0366% |
| 1984 | #298 | 674 | 0.0373% |
| 1983 | #282 | 727 | 0.0406% |
| 1982 | #268 | 795 | 0.0438% |
| 1981 | #255 | 855 | 0.0477% |
| 1980 | #242 | 925 | 0.0518% |
| 1979 | #238 | 927 | 0.0538% |
| 1978 | #222 | 957 | 0.0583% |
| 1977 | #216 | 1,017 | 0.0619% |
| 1976 | #208 | 1,032 | 0.0658% |
| 1975 | #195 | 1,166 | 0.0747% |
| 1974 | #186 | 1,208 | 0.0768% |
| 1973 | #173 | 1,351 | 0.0867% |
| 1972 | #168 | 1,492 | 0.0920% |
| 1971 | #156 | 1,837 | 0.1039% |
| 1970 | #156 | 1,996 | 0.1074% |
| 1969 | #142 | 2,146 | 0.1200% |
| 1968 | #133 | 2,156 | 0.1240% |
| 1967 | #131 | 2,285 | 0.1310% |
| 1966 | #120 | 2,545 | 0.1427% |
| 1965 | #122 | 2,678 | 0.1440% |
| 1964 | #116 | 3,061 | 0.1536% |
| 1963 | #114 | 3,160 | 0.1556% |
| 1962 | #114 | 3,275 | 0.1583% |
| 1961 | #109 | 3,571 | 0.1681% |
| 1960 | #108 | 3,824 | 0.1794% |
| 1959 | #104 | 3,988 | 0.1868% |
| 1958 | #95 | 4,364 | 0.2056% |
| 1957 | #89 | 4,615 | 0.2139% |
| 1956 | #84 | 4,706 | 0.2225% |
| 1955 | #83 | 4,747 | 0.2305% |
| 1954 | #80 | 4,933 | 0.2420% |
| 1953 | #78 | 4,985 | 0.2527% |
| 1952 | #73 | 5,244 | 0.2698% |
| 1951 | #74 | 5,108 | 0.2713% |
| 1950 | #63 | 5,165 | 0.2885% |
| 1949 | #63 | 5,284 | 0.2979% |
| 1948 | #63 | 5,497 | 0.3133% |
| 1947 | #62 | 6,061 | 0.3313% |
| 1946 | #55 | 5,694 | 0.3506% |
| 1945 | #54 | 4,768 | 0.3543% |
| 1944 | #53 | 5,025 | 0.3687% |
| 1943 | #48 | 5,739 | 0.4021% |
| 1942 | #49 | 5,570 | 0.4033% |
| 1941 | #47 | 5,068 | 0.4126% |
| 1940 | #45 | 4,824 | 0.4162% |
| 1939 | #47 | 4,613 | 0.4168% |
| 1938 | #42 | 5,018 | 0.4524% |
| 1937 | #42 | 4,700 | 0.4406% |
| 1936 | #40 | 4,874 | 0.4699% |
| 1935 | #39 | 4,970 | 0.4773% |
| 1934 | #37 | 5,068 | 0.4908% |
| 1933 | #36 | 4,995 | 0.5038% |
| 1932 | #36 | 5,292 | 0.5068% |
| 1931 | #34 | 5,623 | 0.5408% |
| 1930 | #31 | 6,342 | 0.5779% |
| 1929 | #31 | 6,010 | 0.5588% |
| 1928 | #31 | 6,496 | 0.5865% |
| 1927 | #28 | 6,831 | 0.6062% |
| 1926 | #27 | 6,836 | 0.6156% |
| 1925 | #26 | 7,171 | 0.6426% |
| 1924 | #26 | 7,372 | 0.6508% |
| 1923 | #26 | 7,157 | 0.6529% |
| 1922 | #26 | 7,296 | 0.6705% |
| 1921 | #27 | 7,713 | 0.7003% |
| 1920 | #24 | 7,466 | 0.7015% |
| 1919 | #24 | 6,843 | 0.6982% |
| 1918 | #26 | 6,928 | 0.6836% |
| 1917 | #26 | 6,410 | 0.6926% |
| 1916 | #25 | 6,171 | 0.6933% |
| 1915 | #25 | 6,103 | 0.7192% |
| 1914 | #26 | 4,490 | 0.6857% |
| 1913 | #26 | 3,663 | 0.7146% |
| 1912 | #25 | 3,212 | 0.7471% |
| 1911 | #28 | 1,467 | 0.6492% |
| 1910 | #27 | 1,309 | 0.6740% |
| 1909 | #26 | 1,166 | 0.7110% |
| 1908 | #28 | 1,078 | 0.6985% |
| 1907 | #33 | 875 | 0.5959% |
| 1906 | #32 | 803 | 0.6031% |
| 1905 | #35 | 735 | 0.5555% |
| 1904 | #35 | 726 | 0.5666% |
| 1903 | #37 | 636 | 0.5334% |
| 1902 | #35 | 632 | 0.5152% |
| 1901 | #34 | 584 | 0.5485% |
| 1900 | #35 | 779 | 0.5177% |
| 1899 | #34 | 589 | 0.5546% |
| 1898 | #35 | 706 | 0.5755% |
| 1897 | #33 | 634 | 0.5623% |
| 1896 | #33 | 677 | 0.5662% |
| 1895 | #33 | 641 | 0.5460% |
| 1894 | #33 | 612 | 0.5286% |
| 1893 | #35 | 556 | 0.4950% |
| 1892 | #39 | 548 | 0.4491% |
| 1891 | #40 | 485 | 0.4793% |
| 1890 | #40 | 501 | 0.4513% |
| 1889 | #38 | 503 | 0.4549% |
| 1888 | #40 | 513 | 0.4245% |
| 1887 | #42 | 429 | 0.4230% |
| 1886 | #37 | 467 | 0.4215% |
| 1885 | #41 | 438 | 0.4063% |
| 1884 | #44 | 432 | 0.3775% |
| 1883 | #39 | 429 | 0.4100% |
| 1882 | #42 | 422 | 0.3712% |
| 1881 | #42 | 359 | 0.3564% |
| 1880 | #44 | 357 | 0.3231% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Explore Name Lists Featuring Howard
Carl appears in several baby name collections based on U.S. popularity records, naming trends, and name characteristics. Explore these lists to discover other names with similar histories, styles, or features.
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How the Name Howard Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You attract success and money. You are a lover of nature and do not need others for your happiness. You are self sufficient. You strive for material success and power and have business sense. You possess strong organizational abilities, can be a good manager, and executive by nature. You are capable of great achievement in business and finance. You are frank, methodical and believe in law, system and order.
You find the best contentment in life when you own your own home and provide well for your family and loved ones. You have a great sense of responsibility and duty. You are comforting, appreciative and affectionate. Your obligation in life is to hold justice and truth, and if you follow the Law, you can find the great happiness and satisfaction.
✦ Howard's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Howard's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.