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At a Glance
- Meaning
- High guardian
- Origin
- Old Norse (via English surname)
- Gender
- Used for both boys and girls
- Pronunciation
- HOW-erd
Howard comes from the Old Norse name Havardr, meaning 'high guardian,' and reached English through a surname before it became a given name. You might see it described elsewhere as a German name meaning 'brave heart' — that's not accurate; both the language of origin and the meaning point to Old Norse, not German. For parents drawn to a name with 'guardian' at its root, Howard carries that meaning directly.
Meaning & Origin of Howard
Meaning: High guardian.
Origin: Old Norse (via English surname).
A common claim: Often glossed as German, meaning 'brave heart' Actually: Howard doesn't mean 'brave heart' or derive from German — both sources trace it to Old Norse Havardr, 'high guard/guardian'.
Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.
How to Pronounce Howard
HOW-erdIPA /ˈhaʊərd/
Popularity of Howard
Howard was far more common in the past, ranking #24 in 1919 with 6,843 babies given the name that year. By 2024 it had dropped to #1056, with only 207 babies named Howard.
Names Like Howard
Names with a similar style, era, origin or popularity history.
FAQ
What does the name Howard mean?
High guardian. (Source: Wiktionary)
How do you pronounce Howard?
Howard is pronounced HOW-erd (IPA: /ˈhaʊərd/).
Is Howard a popular name right now?
Howard peaked at #24 in 1919 and is ranked #1056 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)
Make Howard Name Art
Free printable nursery art for Howard, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.
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