Howard vs Alec

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Howard

Boy #1,056 Most Popular 2 Syllables

"high guardian, high watchman"

Origin: Old Norse

English American

✓ All Clear

Boy #880 Most Popular 2 Syllables

"defender of men"

Origin: Greek

English Scottish American European

✓ All Clear

Howard Rank #1,056

Alec Rank #880

Alec is more popular, ranked #880 vs #1056 for Howard.

Is Howard or Alec more popular?

Alec is more popular, ranked #880 compared to Howard at #1056 in the United States.

What do Howard and Alec mean?

Howard means "high guardian, high watchman" (Old Norse origin). Alec means "defender of men" (Greek origin).

Are Howard and Alec boy or girl names?

Howard is primarily a boy name. Alec is primarily a boy name.