English/Nordic · Boy name
Howard
“origin uncertain; possibly high guardian or brave heart”
About the name Howard
Howard is a masculine given name of uncertain origin. It may derive from the Old French personal name Huard or Houard, which itself comes from the Old Norse name Hávarðr, composed of the elements ‘há’ meaning ‘high’ and ‘varðr’ meaning ‘guardian’ or ‘warden.’ Alternatively, some sources suggest a Germanic origin related to ‘brave heart.’ Howard has been used as a given name in English-speaking countries since the Middle Ages. Notable bearers include Howard Carter, the British archaeologist who discovered the tomb of Tutankhamun.
- Meaning
- origin uncertain; possibly high guardian or brave heart
- Origin
- English/Nordic
- Gender
- Boy
- Pronunciation
- HOW-erd(2 syl.)
Variants and spellings
No common variant spellings are widely recorded.
If you like Howard
Middle names for Howard
- Howard James
- Howard Alexander
- Howard Michael
- Howard Thomas
- Howard Elliot
Questions about Howard
- What does Howard mean?
- Howard is an English name meaning "origin uncertain; possibly high guardian or brave heart".
- How do you pronounce Howard?
- Howard is pronounced HOW-erd, with emphasis on the first syllable.
More names like this: English baby names, Nordic baby names