Howard is a boy name with a classic feel, drawn from real birth records. Below you'll find what Howard means and where it comes from, plus how many babies have been named Howard across the United States, UK, Ireland and New Zealand, how popular Howard has been over the decades, and the year it peaked.
Howard is a boy name of Germanic origin meaning “of uncertain meaning, possibly high guardian”. originally an aristocratic English surname.
| Country | Births on record |
|---|---|
| United States since 1880 | 348,342 births |
| England & Wales since 1996 | 496 births |
| Scotland since 1974 | 25 births |
| Ireland since 1964 | 139 births |
Counts come from official national birth-registration statistics: U.S. Social Security Administration, England & Wales (Office for National Statistics), Scotland (National Records of Scotland), Northern Ireland (NISRA), Ireland (Central Statistics Office) and New Zealand (Dept. of Internal Affairs). Coverage spans differ, so totals aren't directly comparable across countries.
Babies named Howard per year, United States (1880 to 2025). United States peaked in 1921 (7,749/yr) · England & Wales peaked in 1996 (47/yr) · Ireland peaked in 1976 (10/yr) · Scotland peaked in 1976 (5/yr).
Howard has been one of the most popular baby names in the United States. It was most common in 1921, when it ranked #58 nationally (given to 7,749 babies that year), and a popular choice in the 1920s.
Hardy · Hayward · Heyward · Hart · Haward · Hayword · Heard · Heart
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