Howard is a male given name of English origin that has been used for centuries. It was originally derived from the Old German name "Hohart" which means "strong heart". The name was brought to England by the Normans after their conquest in 1066 and has since become popular in English-speaking countries.
The name Howard gained prominence during the Middle Ages when it was used by several notable families. One of the most famous bearers of the name was Henry Howard, the Earl of Surrey who lived in the late 15th to early 16th century. He was a prominent poet and courtier during the reign of King Henry VIII.
The name Howard has also been associated with the American Howard family who were prominent industrialists in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. One of the most well-known members of this family was William Howard, who served as a US Secretary of State under President Woodrow Wilson.
Today, Howard is still used as a given name but it has also become popular as a surname. It is estimated that there are over 150,000 people with the surname Howard living in the United States alone. Despite its popularity, Howard remains a strong and distinctive name that carries a sense of history and tradition with it.
The name Howard has seen a significant evolution in popularity over the past century and a half in the United States. In the late 19th century, it began with a steady increase in usage, starting from 357 births in 1880 to peaking at 7466 births in 1920.
However, the early 20th century marked a period of decline for the name Howard. From its peak in 1920, it gradually decreased, reaching an all-time low of 357 births in 1961. This trend continued throughout most of the second half of the century, with birth counts consistently below 1000 annually from 1967 onwards.
The latter part of the 20th century and into the early 21st century have seen a stabilization and slight increase in the popularity of the name Howard. Although it hasn't reached the heights of its early 20th-century popularity, it has maintained an average of around 200 births per year since the mid-1990s.
In recent years, the name Howard has shown signs of modest resurgence. From a low of 194 births in 2013, it has risen to 240 births in both 2016 and 2021, indicating that this classic name may be experiencing renewed interest among parents.
In total, the name Howard has been given to 346,226 newborns in the United States since 1880. While its popularity has fluctuated significantly over time, it remains a historic and enduring choice for parents seeking a traditional, strong-sounding name for their sons.