Howard vs Percy

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Howard

Boy #1,056 Most Popular 2 Syllables

Meaning

"high guardian, high watchman"

Origin: Old Norse

Cultural Roots

English American

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#1,056
Total SSA Count
207
Syllables
2
Formality
Moderate
Nicknames
Howie, Ward

Playground Safety Score

✓ All Clear
Full profile for Howard →

Percy

Boy #1,256 Most Popular 2 Syllables

Meaning

"from Percy (Norman place name)"

Origin: Norman French

Cultural Roots

English American French

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#1,256
Total SSA Count
157
Syllables
2
Formality
Moderate
Nicknames
Perce

Playground Safety Score

✓ All Clear
Full profile for Percy →

Popularity Comparison

Howard Rank #1,056
Percy Rank #1,256

Howard is more popular, ranked #1056 vs #1256 for Percy.

Popularity Over Time

Historical US popularity rank — lower number means more popular.

Middle Name Pairings

Howard ___

  • Howard James
  • Howard Lee
  • Howard Dean
  • Howard Allen
  • Howard Eugene
  • Howard Albert

Percy ___

  • Percy James
  • Percy Arthur
  • Percy Edmund
  • Percy Oliver
  • Percy George
  • Percy Fox

Sibling Name Ideas

Names that pair well as siblings.

If you choose Howard

Clarence Bernard Edmund Dorothy Mildred

If you choose Percy

Atticus Hugo Harriet Clem Gus

Which Name Fits Your Family?

Answer 3 quick questions and we'll help you decide.

1. Which style feels more like your family?

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Howard or Percy more popular?

Howard is more popular, ranked #1056 compared to Percy at #1256 in the United States.

What do Howard and Percy mean?

Howard means "high guardian, high watchman" (Old Norse origin). Percy means "from Percy (Norman place name)" (Norman French origin).

Are Howard and Percy boy or girl names?

Howard is primarily a boy name. Percy is primarily a boy name.

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← Full profile: Howard ← Full profile: Percy Browse all baby names