Howard is a masculine

given name A given name (also known as a forename or first name) is the part of a personal name quoted in that identifies a person, potentially with a middle name as well, and differentiates that person from the other members of a group (typically a f ...

derived from the English surname Howard. ''The Oxford Dictionary of English Christian Names'' notes that "the use of this surname as a christian name is quite recent and there seems to be no particular reason for it except that it is the name of several noble families". The surname has a number of possible origins; in the case of the

noble family Nobility is a social class found in many societies that have an aristocracy (class), aristocracy. It is normally appointed by and ranked immediately below Royal family, royalty. Nobility has often been an Estates of the realm, estate of the rea ...

, the likely source is the Norse given name Hávarðr, composed of the elements ''há'' ("high") and ''varðr'' ("guardian"). Diminutives include Howie and Ward. Howard reached peak popularity in the United States in the 1920s, when it ranked as the 26th most popular boys' name. As of 2018, it had fallen to 968th place.

People with the given name

* Howard Allen (1949–2020), American serial killer * Howard Duane Allman (1946–1971), American guitar virtuoso * Howard Anderson (disambiguation), name of several people * Howard Andrew (1934–2021), American poker player * Howard Ashman (1950–1991), American playwright, lyricist and stage director * Howard Baker (disambiguation), name of several people * Howard Berman (born 1941), American attorney and politician * Howard Bragman (1956–2023), American crisis manager and publicist * Howard W. Brill (born 1943), chief justice of the Arkansas Supreme Court * Howard Graham Buffett (born 1954), American businessman, politician, philanthropist, photographer, farmer, and conservationist * Howard Burnett (athlete) (born 1961), Jamaican track and field athlete * Howard J. Burnett (1929–2019), American president of Washington & Jefferson College * Howard Carpendale (born 1946), German singer * Howard Carter (disambiguation), name of several people *

Howard Chaykin Howard Victor Chaykin (; born October 7, 1950) is an Americans, American comics artist, comic book artist and writer. Chaykin's influences include his one-time employer and mentor, Gil Kane, and the mid-20th century illustrators Robert Fawcett an ...

(born 1950), American comic book artist and writer * Howard Y T Cheng (born 1981), champion apprentice jockey in Hong Kong * Howard Cosell (1918–1995), sports broadcaster * Howard "Ward" Cunningham (born 1949), American founder of WikiWikiWeb * Howard B. Cushing (1838–1871), American soldier during the

Civil War A civil war is a war between organized groups within the same Sovereign state, state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies.J ...

Howard David Howard David is an American sportscaster. Biography Over the years, David has been the radio play-by-play man for several pro sports teams including the NBA's New Jersey Nets, Milwaukee Bucks and Boston Celtics and the NFL's New York Jets ...

(fl. 1990s–2010s), American sportscaster *

Howard Davies (disambiguation) Howard Davies may refer to: * Howard Davies (rugby union) (1916–1987), Wales rugby union international * Sir Howard Davies (economist) (born 1951), former Director of the London School of Economics and former British financial regulator * Howa ...

, name of several people *

Howard Davis (disambiguation) Howard Davis is the name of: * Howard Davis (professor of architecture) (born 1948), American writer and professor of architecture at the University of Oregon * Howard Davis (musician) (1940–2008), British violinist * Howard Davis (sprinter) (bor ...

, name of several people *

Howard Dean Howard Brush Dean III (born November 17, 1948) is an American physician, author, consultant, and retired politician who served as the 79th governor of Vermont from 1991 to 2003 and chair of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) from 2005 to 20 ...

(born 1948), American politician *

Howard Donald Howard Paul Donald (born 28 April 1968) is an English singer, songwriter, drummer, pianist, dancer, DJ and record producer. He is a member of the pop group Take That. He was also judge on the German reality talent show ''Got to Dance'' from 20 ...

(born 1968), English singer *

Howard Devoto Howard Devoto (born Howard Andrew Trafford, 15 March 1952) is an English singer and songwriter, who began his career as the frontman for punk rock band Buzzcocks, but then left to form Magazine, an early post-punk band. After Magazine, he went ...

(born Howard Trafford, 1952), English singer-songwriter *

Howard Duff Howard Green Duff (November 24, 1913July 8, 1990) was an American actor. He started in radio during World War II before appearing in many Hollywood features and television programs from 1947 to 1990. He also directed for television. His career ...

(1913–1990), American actor *

Howard Eastman Howard Anthony Eastman (born 8 December 1970) is a Guyanese-British former professional boxer who competed from 1994 to 2014. He challenged twice for middleweight world championships; the vacant WBA title in 2001; and the undisputed title a ...

(born 1970), Guyanese-British boxer * Howard Ehmke (1894–1959), American baseball pitcher * Howard Eisenberg (born 1926), American author and journalist * Howard Eisley (born 1972), American basketball player and coach * Howard Engel (1931–2019), Canadian mystery writer * Howard Eskin (born 1951), American sports radio personality * Howard Evans (disambiguation), name of several people * Howard Fast (1914–2003) American novelist and television writer * Howard Fineman (1948–2024), American journalist and television commentator * Howard Florey (1898–1968), Australian pharmacologist * Howard Gardner (born 1943), American developmental psychologist * Howard Goodall (born 1958), British musician, musicologist and TV presenter * Howard Grant (boxer) (born 1966), Jamaican-Canadian boxer * Howard Hanson (1896–1981), American composer, conductor, educator, and music theorist *

Howard Hawks Howard Winchester Hawks (May 30, 1896December 26, 1977) was an American film director, Film producer, producer, and screenwriter of the Classical Hollywood cinema, classic Hollywood era. Critic Leonard Maltin called him "the greatest American ...

(1896–1977), American producer *

Howard Hesseman Howard Hesseman (February 27, 1940 – January 29, 2022) was an American actor known for his television roles as burned-out disc jockey Dr. Johnny Fever on '' WKRP in Cincinnati'' and the lead role of history teacher Charlie Moore on '' Head ...

(1940–2022), American actor * Howard Hotson (fl. 2000–2020s), British historian * Howard A. Howe (1901–1976), American virologist *

Howard Hughes Howard Robard Hughes Jr. (December 24, 1905 – April 5, 1976) was an American Aerospace engineering, aerospace engineer, business magnate, film producer, and investor. He was The World's Billionaires, one of the richest and most influential peo ...

(1905–1976), American aviation pioneer and film mogul * Howard Jacobson (born 1942), British novelist and journalist * Howard Johnson (disambiguation), name of several people * Howard Jones (disambiguation), name of several people * Howard Judd (1935–2007), American physician and medical researcher * Howard Kazanjian (born 1942), Armenian-American film producer * Howard Keel (1919–2004), singer and actor born Harry Keel * Howard Kendall (1946–2015), English football player and manager * Howard Kirshbaum (born 1938), associate justice of the Colorado Supreme Court * Howard Andrew Knox (1885–1949), American physician * Howard Kurtz (born 1953), American journalist and author * Howard Lassoff (1955–2013), American-Israeli basketball player * Howard Lederer (born 1964), professional poker player * Howard Lesnick (1931–2020), American, Jefferson B. Fordham Professor of Law, University of Pennsylvania Law School * Howard Long (1905–1939), American convicted murderer *

H. P. Lovecraft Howard Phillips Lovecraft (, ; August 20, 1890 – March 15, 1937) was an American writer of Weird fiction, weird, Science fiction, science, fantasy, and horror fiction. He is best known for his creation of the Cthulhu Mythos. Born in Provi ...

(1890–1937), American writer (full name Howard Phillips Lovecraft) * Howard Lutnick (born 1961), United States Secretary of Commerce * Howard Hamilton Mackey (1901–1987), American architect, educator * Howard McNear (1905–1969), American radio and television actor * Howard Marks (1945–2016), teacher, drug smuggler and author * Howard Matthews (1885–1963), English footballer * Howard W. Mattson (1927–1998), American chemist and journalist * Howard Metzenbaum (1917–2008) American politician and businessman * Howard Morris (1919–2005), American actor, comedian, and director * Howard T. Odum (1924–2002), American ecologist * Howard Payne (athlete) (1931–1992), English hammer thrower * Howard Pyle (1853–1911), American illustrator, painter, and author * Howard Schatz, American fine art photographer * Anne Rice (1941–2021), born Howard O'Brien, American author *

Howard Roberts Howard Mancel Roberts (October 2, 1929 – June 28, 1992) was an American jazz guitarist, educator, and session musician. Early life Roberts was born in Phoenix, Arizona to Damon and Vesta Roberts, and began playing guitar at the age of 8 — a ...

(1929–1992) American guitarist, educator, and session musician * Howard Schultz (born 1953), American businessman and CEO of Starbucks * Howard Shane, American Autism researcher * Howard Shore (born 1946), Canadian composer * Howard Sims (1917–2003) African-American tap dancer * Howard da Silva (1909–1986), American actor, director and musical performer * Howard Smalley (born 1942), New Zealand cricketer * Howard Smith (disambiguation), name of several people * Howard Smothers (born 1973), American football player * Howard Spira, American gambler who was paid by George Steinbrenner to find dirt on baseball player Dave Winfield * Howard Stableford (born 1959), British television and radio presenter * Howard Staunton (1810–1874), British chess player and Shakespearean scholar * Howard Stern (born 1954), American talk-radio host * Howard K. Stern (born 1968), attorney for Anna Nicole Smith * Howard Stidham (born 1954), American football player * Howard Stupp (born 1955), Canadian Olympic wrestler * Howard Tayler (born 1968), American cartoonist * Howard Turner (1897–1976), American football player * Howard Unruh (1921–2009), American spree killer * Howard Van Smith (1909–1987), American journalist * Howard Wales (1943–2020), American musician * Howard Walker (disambiguation), name of several people * Howard Walter (1883–1918), American Congregationalist minister and hymnist * Howard Washington (born 1998), American-Canadian basketball player * Howard Watt (1911–2005), South African rugby union player * Howard Watts III (born 1987), American politician * Howard Webb (born 1971), English professional football referee * Howard Weyers (1934–2018), American football player and assistant coach * Howard Wilkinson (born 1943), English football manager * Howard Williams (disambiguation), name of several people * Howard Wilson (American football) (born 1995), American football player * Howard Wilson (physicist), British physicist * Howard Zinn (1922–2010), American historian, academic, author, playwright, and social activist

People known as Howie

* Howie B (born 1963), Scottish musician and producer Howard Bernstein * Howie Carr (born 1952), American journalist * Howie Day (born 1981), American singer-songwriter * Howie Dorough (born 1973), American musician with Backstreet Boys * Howie Epstein (1955–2003), American musician * Howie Gordon (later known as Richard Pacheco), American pornographic actor * Howie Hawkins, American politician and activist * Howie Long (born 1960), American former football player and actor * Howie Mandel (born 1955), Canadian comedian and actor, host of the TV show ''Deal or No Deal'' * Howie Meeker (1923–2020), Canadian hockey player, TV sports announcer, Member of Parliament * Howie Morenz (1902–1937), Canadian ice hockey player * Howie Nave (born 1956), American comedian, radio personality, writer, promoter and movie critic * Howie Rose (born 1954), American sportscaster * Howie Severino (born 1961), Filipino broadcast journalist * Howie Winter (1929–2020), American mobster

Fictional characters

* Howard Bellamy (''Doctors''), in the British soap opera ''Doctors'' * Howard Clifford, a fictional villain in the '' Detective Pikachu'' movie * Howard Cunningham (''Happy Days''), in the TV series ''Happy Days'' * Howard DeVille, in the animated series '' Rugrats'' * Howard Hamlin, a fictional character on the AMC television series ''Better Call Saul'' * Howard Huge, a comic strip dog * Howard Hunter, in the TV series '' Hill Street Blues'', played by James B. Sikking * Howard Langston, in the 1996 film '' Jingle All the Way'' * Howard McBride, in the animated series ''The Loud House'' * Howard McGreggor, in the TV series ''Fresh Meat'' (TV series) * Howard Moon, in the TV series ''The Mighty Boosh'', portrayed by Julian Barratt * Howard Nichols, a character in the 1981 American made-for-television movie '' Fallen Angel'' * Howard Roark, protagonist of Ayn Rand's novel ''The Fountainhead'' * Howard Stark, father of Tony Stark/Iron Man * Howard Wolowitz, a fictional character on the CBS television series ''The Big Bang Theory'', portrayed by actor Simon Helberg. * Howard the Duck, a comic book character * Howard Link, a "Crow" and Inspector for the Black Order in the anime/manga '' D. Gray Man'' * Howard Marner, a fictional character from ''Short Circuit'' (1986 film) * Howard Silk, main character and agent in the TV series ''Counterpart'' (TV series)

References

{{given name English masculine given names Masculine given names Given names originating from a surname