Howard Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Howard originates from Old English, meaning 'guardian of the heart'. It evolved from earlier forms such as Huard and Huward. It has historical significance due to its association with noble families in England. The name is viewed positively in modern times and is associated with strength and reliability. There is no direct biblical relevance.
The name Howard is most popular in West Virginia, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the G.I. Generation generation in the MidWest region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Howard has been too falling for male in MidWest, stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, falling for male in South, stalled for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Howard' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 29th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 43rd out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 86th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 168th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 379th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 771st out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 1003rd out of 23106 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 1324th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 1492nd out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 3080th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 4505th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 14169th out of 27321 names. Discover how the name 'Howard' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Howard"
Pronunciation
/ˈhaʊərd/
Origin
Old English
Etymology
The name Howard is derived from the Old English personal name 'Huard', which is composed of the elements 'hu' meaning 'heart' and 'ward' meaning 'guardian' or 'protector'.
Meaning
Guardian of the heart
Language Evolution
Huard, Huward, Howard
Historical Usage
Howard gained popularity in England in the Middle Ages and was borne by several noble families, notably the Howards of Norfolk, who produced many notable figures in British history.
Variants & Derivatives
Howie, Howards, Haworth
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, Howard is viewed as a classic name with a traditional feel. It has a solid, dependable image and is often associated with strong family ties.
Famous People
Howard Hughes, Howard Stern, Howard Ashman, Howard Carter
Explore More Howard Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Howard"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Howard"
"Howard" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 29th of 7545 | 111,673 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 43rd of 6773 | 94,995 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 86th of 7552 | 87,282 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 168th of 10718 | 25,718 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 379th of 16616 | 9,111 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 771st of 24088 | 4,047 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 1003rd of 23106 | 2,541 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 1324th of 9107 | 612 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 1492nd of 9204 | 499 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 3080th of 12526 | 275 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 4505th of 19264 | 202 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 14169th of 27321 | 46 |
Regional Popularity of "Howard" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
1.91% 27th/1416 |
2.25% 31st/1379 |
1.35% 32nd/2366 |
2.45% 28th/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
2.52% 39th/1546 |
2.51% 39th/1556 |
1.66% 39th/2353 |
3.43% 53rd/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
4.36% 97th/2227 |
2.55% 62nd/2430 |
2.84% 81st/2853 |
3.93% 109th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
6.30% 185th/2937 |
3.50% 122nd/3483 |
4.18% 147th/3518 |
5.89% 238th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
10.99% 405th/3685 |
7.13% 319th/4475 |
6.37% 331st/5194 |
7.88% 498th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
17.79% 815th/4582 |
13.50% 697th/5164 |
9.93% 726th/7313 |
12.58% 939th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
20.71% 825th/3984 |
25.94% 1164th/4487 |
16.97% 1158th/6822 |
16.27% 1021st/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Howard" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
86.51% 1225th/1416 |
76.36% 1053rd/1379 |
- | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
100.00% 1546th/1546 |
78.15% 1216th/1556 |
- | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Howard"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Howard" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.