Powell Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Powell has Welsh origins, meaning 'son of Howel'. It evolved from the Old Welsh 'Hywel', gaining popularity during the Middle Ages. It is associated with traits of prominence and has no biblical relevance. Today, it is viewed as a traditional name linked to Welsh heritage.
The name Powell is most popular in Georgia, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the G.I. Generation generation in the South 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, Powell has been stalled for male in South. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in South. Across generations, 'Powell' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 1517th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 1620th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 2168th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 4308th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 5914th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 8033rd out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 7918th out of 23106 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 28476th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Powell' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Powell"
Pronunciation
/ˈpaʊəl/
Origin
Welsh
Etymology
The name Powell is derived from the Welsh name 'Ap Howel', meaning 'son of Howel'. Howel itself comes from the Old Welsh 'Hywel', which means 'eminent' or 'conspicuous'.
Meaning
son of Howel
Language Evolution
Ap Howel, Hywel, Powell
Historical Usage
The name Powell became popular in England, particularly in Wales, during the Middle Ages and has remained in use as both a surname and given name.
Variants & Derivatives
Powel, Powle, Pol
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Powell is perceived as a traditional name with a strong heritage, often associated with Welsh culture and history.
Famous People
Colin Powell, Michael Powell, Powell Peralta
Explore More Powell Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Powell"
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 "Powell"
"Powell" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 1517th of 7545 | 379 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 1620th of 6773 | 345 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 2168th of 7552 | 267 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 4308th of 10718 | 93 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 5914th of 16616 | 108 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 8033rd of 24088 | 128 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 7918th of 23106 | 114 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 28476th of 30306 | 6 |
Regional Popularity of "Powell" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - |
79.97% 1892nd/2366 |
- |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - |
95.07% 2237th/2353 |
- |
| 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) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Powell" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| 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 "Powell"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Powell" 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.