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© 2026 Namesake · namesake.baby

Data: Social Security Administration, US births 1880–2024

Howard — Meaning, Origin & Popularity | Namesake
All names
Hovhannes|Howell
GermanicBoy↓ Declining

Howard

HOH-urd · 2 syllables

Share Howard:
Compare with another name
Boy
#1056
↓ Declining
#1056
in the US · 2024
Popularity score: 30
Peak rank
#939 in 2021
5yr change
-52 ranks
Birth frequency
5.8 per 100,000 births
Sex split
100% boy · 0% girl

Popularity Over Time

↑ Higher on this chart = more popular · ↓ Lower = less popular

Average0255075100Popularity score (0–100)20202024

Rank #1056 · Falling since 2020

How Popular Is This Name?

Bars show the range of popularity for each group. The dot shows where this name sits. Further right = more popular.

All US boy names
Top 200 boy names
Germanic boy names
Howard

Popularity score: 30  ·  SSA Rank: #1056

Rare  ·  Distinctive  ·  Familiar  ·  Common  ·  Very Common

Popularity score: 0 = least popular, 100 = most popular. Based on SSA rank.

Namesake Score
7
Higher than 7% of names
Combines uniqueness, trend, meaning, feasibility, and search interest.
Trend
↓ Declining
-52 ranks
Based on SSA rank velocity
Feasibility
Limited
.com taken · — · clear
Low friction, available
Uniqueness
80
2 per 10,000 births
Won't be common in class

Howard scores lower overall — the popularity trend is fading.

Meaning Depth37% of score
40
Name Trend28% of score
18
Uniqueness20% of score
80
Feasibility15% of score
50

Scores are percentile-ranked across 43,000+ names.

Name DNA
GermanicClassicVintageMasculine2-syllableMid-century PeakNobleStrongProfessionalTraditional
Character
steady reliabilityintellectual curiosityquiet strengthpractical wisdom
People with this name

Qualities shared by notable Howards

innovativeambitiouseccentricvisionaryobsessive
STRONG
High confidence

Howard is a Germanic boy name with cooling SSA momentum. It ranked #1056 in the US in 2024.

Trend:↓ Declining · -52 ranks
Feasibility:.com taken · — · clear
Popularity:#1056 · rare
Howard at a Glance
Meaning:From Germanic elements meaning 'high' and 'brave', conveying a noble warrior spirit.
Language root:Old German · Old Norse
Peak rank:#939 in 2021
5yr change:-52 ranks
Sex usage:100% boy · 0% girl
Notable bearers
Howard Hughes
Aviator and businessman
Howard Stern
Radio personality
Howard Cosell
Sportscaster
Similar Sound
HaroldHoraceHerbertHarvey◈Walter
Similar Style
EdgarLeonardRaymondMauriceStanley
Works well with
MargaretDorothyEleanorRobertCharlesGeorge
You Might Also Like
Edgar
English · #457
→ Stable
Leonard
Germanic · #673
→ Stable
Raymond
Germanic · #379
→ Stable
Maurice
Latin · #930
↑ Rising
Stanley
English · #875
↓ Declining
Henry
Germanic · #6
→ Stable
Source: Social Security Administration baby names data. Popularity data reflects US births. Feasibility data updated monthly.
Howard illustration
Name Intelligence
Howard · Overview
Summary

Howard is a Germanic boy name with cooling SSA momentum. It ranked #1056 in the US in 2024.

Search interest: 4/100 → Stable

Strengths
Classic · Strong · Vintage character
Howard carries a bold, serious, grounded quality that makes it distinctive without being invented.
Considerations
Popularity declining
Rank has dropped 52 positions in the last year. Consider whether this trajectory matters for your decision.
Domain taken
howard.com is not available. Alternative TLDs may work.
Explore

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Data source:Social Security Administration
Coverage:US births 1879–2024
Updated:January 2025
ISR:Refreshes monthly
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