Howard vs Harold

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Howard

Boy #1,056 Most Popular 2 Syllables

"high guardian, high watchman"

Origin: Old Norse

English American

✓ All Clear

Boy #991 Most Popular 2 Syllables

"army ruler, power of the army"

Origin: Old English

English Scandinavian American

✓ All Clear

Howard Rank #1,056

Harold Rank #991

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

Is Howard or Harold more popular?

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

What do Howard and Harold mean?

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

Are Howard and Harold boy or girl names?

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