Howard vs Gary

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Howard

Boy #1,056 Most Popular 2 Syllables

"high guardian, high watchman"

Origin: Old Norse

English American

✓ All Clear

Boy #1,133 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'"}

Howard Rank #1,056

Gary Rank #1,133

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

Is Howard or Gary more popular?

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

What do Howard and Gary mean?

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

Are Howard and Gary boy or girl names?

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