Howard

Howard is a male first name that has its origin in an English surname of a noble family. The name may either trace back to the Germanic Hughard or the Norse Hávarðr.

What does the name Howard mean?

Howard is a male first name that is derived from an English noble surname. It may have developed from the Germanic Hughard or the Norse Hávarðr. The name means 'the brave with intelligence' or 'the high guardian'. Hughard consists of the Old Germanic elements hugu for 'intellect', 'thought', 'spirit' and hart, meaning 'hard', 'firm', 'brave' or 'resilient'. The Norse Hávarðr is composed of the Old Norse components hár for 'high' and vǫrðr for 'guardian' or 'protector'. Additionally, the name could also mean 'shepherd', which is derived from the Middle English expression ewe herder. The diminutive form of the name is Howie.

Where does the name Howard come from?

The name Howard has its roots in Old Germanic and Old Norse and means 'the brave with intelligence'. The Old Germanic word components include hugu, which means 'intellect', 'thought' or 'spirit', and hart, which stands for 'hard', 'firm', 'brave' or 'resilient'. The Old Norse elements hár, meaning 'high', and vǫrðr, meaning 'guardian' or 'protector', are also included. The name is common in the languages of Old English, Anglo-Saxon, and English.

How do you pronounce Howard?

The pronunciation of Howard is two syllables: 'Ho-ward' [ˈhaʊɚd] or in a Germanized form [ˈhoːvaʁt]. The diphthong in the English sound gives the first syllable a dynamic touch. The second syllable ends distinctly, adding weight to the name. Howard conveys a cosmopolitan and self-assured aura - powerful, clear, and with an international flair.

Popularity

In Germany, Howard is a relatively rare first name. In 2015, it ranked 3,527th on the list of the most common male first names. Over the last ten years, Howard has been chosen as a first name fewer than 10 times, placing it 6,739th in the ten-year statistics. From 2010 to 2024, it ranks 8,037th.

Nicknames & pet names

Howa / Howie / Wardie

Famous people

• David Howard Hitchcock (American artist)
• Howard Bayne (American basketball player)
• Howard Carpendale (singer)
• Howard Colvin (British architect)
• Howard Cruse (American cartoonist)
• Howard Davis (Canadian musician)
• Howard Donald (singer)
• Howard Drossin (American composer)
• Howard Dwaine Dorough Flores (American singer, Backstreet Boy)
• Howard Earl (American baseball player)
• Howard Freigau (baseball player from the USA)
• Howard Hathaway Aiken (1900–1973, American computer scientist)
• Howard Hawks Mitchell (American mathematician)
• Howard L. Penman (English physicist)
• Howard Lanin (American musician)
• Howard Laurence Griffiths (conductor)
• Howard Nelson (actor from Great Britain)
• Howard R. Lamar (American historian)
• Howard Russell Butler (American painter)
• Howard Shore (Canadian composer)