Howard vs Ernest

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Howard

Boy #1,056 Most Popular 2 Syllables

"high guardian, high watchman"

Origin: Old Norse

English American

✓ All Clear

Boy #1,085 Most Popular 2 Syllables

"serious, determined, vigorous"

Origin: Old High German

English German French

✓ All Clear

Howard Rank #1,056

Ernest Rank #1,085

Howard is more popular, ranked #1056 vs #1085 for Ernest.

Is Howard or Ernest more popular?

Howard is more popular, ranked #1056 compared to Ernest at #1085 in the United States.

What do Howard and Ernest mean?

Howard means "high guardian, high watchman" (Old Norse origin). Ernest means "serious, determined, vigorous" (Old High German origin).

Are Howard and Ernest boy or girl names?

Howard is primarily a boy name. Ernest is primarily a boy name.