What Does the Name Howard Mean?
Howard is a boy's name of English origin meaning “high guardian / brave heart.”
Updated June 2026
| Name | Howard |
|---|---|
| Gender | male |
| Origin | English |
| Meaning | high guardian / brave heart |
| Variants | Howie, Ward |
| Popularity | Popular in the United States in the early-to-mid 20th century; now uncommon. |
The meaning and origin of Howard
The name Howard means “high guardian / brave heart” and has English origins. A transferred use of the English surname, which may derive from the Germanic name Huard ('heart-brave') or from Old Norse Haward ('high guardian'). It is associated with the prominent aristocratic Howard family.
Variants and related names
Howard is related to several other names you may recognize: Howie, Ward. These share a common root or are spelling and language variants of the same name.
How popular is the name Howard?
Popular in the United States in the early-to-mid 20th century; now uncommon.
Popularity matters when you need believable test data: a name that fits the era or region you are modeling makes a generated profile look real. You can generate a complete fictional profile using the name Howard below.
Generate a fake Howard profile
Need a complete fictional identity using the name Howard? Generate a full profile — address, phone, email and more — for testing and privacy.
Open the name generator →Frequently asked questions
What does the name Howard mean?+
The name Howard means “high guardian / brave heart” and is of English origin.
What is the origin of the name Howard?+
Howard originates from English.
Is Howard a popular name?+
Yes — see the popularity note above for how Howard has trended in the US over time.
Howard by gender
More boy's names
Sources
- Behind the Name — Etymology and history of first names — Behind the Name
- US Social Security Administration — Popular baby names by year — Social Security Administration
- A Dictionary of First Names — Oxford Reference — Oxford University Press