Howard
How to say it: HOW-erd · /ˈhaʊərd/
Possibly from Old Norse Hávarðr ('high guardian') or Germanic hug 'heart' + ward 'guard'.
Howard was the 910th most popular boys’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 226 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 1910s, its births are up about 16% in ten years, and it is projected to rise to #892 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among boys’ names, 2025 | #910 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 226 |
| Share of births | 1 in 14,669 |
| Peak decade | 1910s |
| Change over 10 years | +16% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #892 |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Falling far from its high in the 1910s, Howard remains in steady use. Currently far below that high, renewed growth looks likely.
What goes with it
Solid and crisp with a breathy finish, Howard feels grounded. Ward works as a short form.
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Howard is about under 1 in 200.
Around the world
This spelling is used in English, French, German.
Famous people named Howard
- Howard Carter (1874–1939)British egyptologist
- Howard Gardner (born 1943)American developmental psychologist & academic
- Howard Hughes (1905–1976)American aviator, engineer, industrialist, and film producer
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
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