Holding steady, #6,803 for boys today.
Popularity of Howell since 1880
Babies named Howell per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1920, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Howell's real moment was 1895.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 93 |
| 1890s | 97 |
| 1900s | 102 |
| 1910s | 500 |
| 1920s | 730 |
| 1930s | 607 |
| 1940s | 556 |
| 1950s | 540 |
| 1960s | 290 |
| 1970s | 138 |
| 1980s | 78 |
| 1990s | 46 |
| 2000s | 45 |
| 2010s | 36 |
| 2020s | 65 |
Meaning & origin
Howell is a Welsh-origin name, derived from the ancient name Hywel, meaning 'eminent' or 'remarkable'. Historically tied to the legendary lawgiver Hywel Dda, the name saw its greatest use in the United States during the 1890s, peaking in 1895. Today, it is quite rare, with a rank of 6,803 in 2025 and approximately 1 in 142,340 births. The name's trajectory has remained stable over the past few decades, appealing to those with Welsh heritage or a taste for distinguished, old-fashioned names. While no top states emerge in the data, Howell retains a quiet dignity as a name with deep roots.
Howell is an Anglicized form of the Welsh personal name Hywel, meaning 'eminent' or 'remarkable'. In Welsh tradition, Hywel Dda (Hywel the Good) was a 10th-century king who codified Welsh law. The surname Howell became common in Wales and the border counties, later adopted as a given name, particularly in the United States.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Howe
Variants: Hywel, Howel
Sibling names for Howell
Names that share Howell's style, for a brother or sister.
