Howard

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The name Howard means “high guardian, brave heart.” It comes from the English language tradition.

Howard derives from multiple sources: the Old English 'heah' (high) and 'weard' (guardian), or the Old Norse 'Haward' (high guard). The Howard family was one of England's most powerful noble dynasties. While it peaked in the early 20th century, Howard is ripe for revival as vintage names cycle back into fashion.

Wiktionary and Wikipedia agree Howard is a medieval personal name and English surname most likely derived from the Norse given name Háavarðr, composed of há, 'high', and varðr, 'guardian' — confirming the 'high guardian' sense given elsewhere, though the 'brave heart' meaning is not supported by anything found here. Wiktionary adds that in some cases it is a variant of Heward, from Huard.

Wikipedia quotes the Oxford Dictionary of English Christian Names noting that using this surname as a first name is 'quite recent' with no particular reason beyond it being the name of several noble families, supporting the existing note about the powerful Howard family, though nothing here dates a peak in the early 20th century.

• Howard Hughes (American business magnate, aviator, and filmmaker)
• Howard Carter (British archaeologist who discovered Tutankhamun's tomb)

Sibling names that share Howard's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.