Powell

At a Glance

Meaning

Son of Hywel

Origin

Welsh (anglicized)

Gender

Neutral

Pronunciation

POW-ulListen

Powell is a Welsh name, pronounced POW-ul, that comes from the patronymic 'ap Hywel' — meaning son of Hywel — later anglicized into the surname-style spelling used today. You may come across the claim that Powell means 'son of the servant of St. Paul,' but that's not accurate: the name has no real tie to Paul, and the two were only ever linked because they sound alike. It's used as a neutral, all-gender name, rooted in that Welsh 'son of Hywel' origin.

Meaning & Origin of Powell

Meaning: Son of Hywel.

Origin: Welsh (anglicized).

A common claim: Powell is often said to mean 'son of the servant of St. Paul' Actually: Powell doesn't derive from Paul at all — it's the anglicized Welsh patronymic 'ap Hywel' ('son of Hywel'), only folk-associated with Paul by sound resemblance.

Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.

How to Pronounce Powell

Popularity of Powell

SSA records for Powell run from 1883 to 2024, with the name reaching its peak popularity at #936 in 1891, when 6 babies were given the name. By 2024 it ranked #8145, with 10 babies recorded that year.

Names Like Powell

These names share Powell’s style, era or origin.

• Adley
• Amory
• Arden
• Arlowe
• Arrow
• Ash

FAQ

What does the name Powell mean?

Son of Hywel. (Source: Wiktionary)

How do you pronounce Powell?

Powell is pronounced POW-ul (IPA: /ˈpaʊəl/).

Is Powell a popular name right now?

Powell peaked at #936 in 1891 and is ranked #8145 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1883–2024.)

Make Powell Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Powell, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.