Howard
Meaning
surname of disputed origin, traditionally linked to Old Norse Havardr, 'high guardian'
Goes by Howie
Popularity, 1890–2024
Shape drawn from US Social Security baby-name records. Howard peaked in the 1910s and the 1930s in nearly equal measure.
See popularity in Brazil
Popularity in Brazil
83 people · the #47,007 first name in Brazil · median age 29
Source: IBGE, Censo Demográfico 2022
When you meet Howard
People given the name Howard in the United States span the generations: the middle half were born anywhere from 1940 to 1979. Age is the one thing the name won't tell you.
Estimated from US Social Security birth registrations and typical lifespans; a rough guide, not a rule.
The Howard deep dive
Whether you’re naming a baby or exploring your own name’s history, this is a personal letter, not a list: where Howard truly comes from, how it traveled, and what a century of records reveals. If you have grown a tree on nametree, it also considers how Howard fits with your family’s names and surname.
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