Harold vs Howard

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Harold

Boy #991 Most Popular 2 Syllables

"army ruler, power of the army"

Origin: Old English

English Scandinavian American

✓ All Clear

Boy #1,056 Most Popular 2 Syllables

"high guardian, high watchman"

Origin: Old Norse

English American

✓ All Clear

Harold Rank #991

Howard Rank #1,056

Harold is more popular, ranked #991 vs #1056 for Howard.

Is Harold or Howard more popular?

Harold is more popular, ranked #991 compared to Howard at #1056 in the United States.

What do Harold and Howard mean?

Harold means "army ruler, power of the army" (Old English origin). Howard means "high guardian, high watchman" (Old Norse origin).

Are Harold and Howard boy or girl names?

Harold is primarily a boy name. Howard is primarily a boy name.