Gary vs Howard

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Gary

Boy #1,133 Most Popular 2 Syllables

"spear ruler"

Origin: Germanic

American English Irish

12 High Risk

{:type=>:nickname, :severity=>:medium, :message=>"'Gary' can be twisted to 'scary'"}

Boy #1,056 Most Popular 2 Syllables

"high guardian, high watchman"

Origin: Old Norse

English American

✓ All Clear

Gary Rank #1,133

Howard Rank #1,056

Howard is more popular, ranked #1056 vs #1133 for Gary.

Is Gary or Howard more popular?

Howard is more popular, ranked #1056 compared to Gary at #1133 in the United States.

What do Gary and Howard mean?

Gary means "spear ruler" (Germanic origin). Howard means "high guardian, high watchman" (Old Norse origin).

Are Gary and Howard boy or girl names?

Gary is primarily a boy name. Howard is primarily a boy name.