Baby Names US
boys' name ★ peaked 1920

Howell

Meaning From Welsh Hywel Gender Boy Rank 2025 #6,947

From Welsh Hywel. Doublet of Huell and Powell.

Rank 2025
#6,947
among boys · ↑488 vs 2024
Babies in 2025
12
named Howell
How common
1 in 142,340
boys born in 2025
Peak year
1920
93 babies
All-time total
3,923
#2,126 all-time among boys
First recorded
1880
in Social Security records

Howell popularity over time

3,923 babies have been named Howell since 1880, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure
Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras
0.040.080.110.1518801900192019401960198020002020Peak 1895Boys

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade Boys Per year Change Best rank
1880s 93 9 – #491
1890s 97 10 +4% #516
1900s 102 10 +5% #649
1910s 500 50 +390% #682
1920s 730 73 +46% #665
1930s 607 61 -17% #728
1940s 556 56 -8% #796
1950s 540 54 -3% #792
1960s 290 29 -46% #1,192
1970s 138 14 -52% #1,754
1980s 78 8 -43% #3,961
1990s 46 5 -41% #4,259
2000s 45 5 -2% #6,181
2010s 36 4 -20% #9,946
2020s (to 2025) 65 11 +201% #6,090

The story of Howell

Howell is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #6,947 in 2025 with 12 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.

Since 1880, 3,923 American babies have been named Howell. Its peak came in 1920, when 93 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1920s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Howell stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Howell?

The median living Howell is about 67 years old; half are between 54 and 77. An estimated 1,400 people named Howell are alive in the United States today.

median 67 020406080100

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Howell year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year Boys Boys rank
2025 12 #6,947
2024 11 #7,435
2023 10 #7,924
2022 9 #8,567
2021 9 #8,422
2020 14 #6,090
2019 6 #11,286
2018 – –
2017 5 #12,995
2016 – –
2015 7 #9,946
2014 – –
2013 5 #12,844
2012 7 #10,105
2011 6 #11,366
2010 – –
2009 – –
2008 7 #10,282
2007 – –
2006 – –
2005 10 #7,323
2004 – –
2003 8 #8,127
2002 – –
2001 11 #6,181
2000 9 #7,042
1995 – –
1990 13 #4,259
1985 7 #5,384
1980 8 #4,673
1975 12 #3,136
1970 18 #2,162
1965 26 #1,538
1960 33 #1,387
1955 48 #1,086
1950 74 #792
1945 50 #906
1940 61 #796
1935 55 #846
1930 51 #951
1925 79 #734
1920 93 #665
1915 68 #719
1910 13 #899
1905 14 #649
1900 14 #688
1895 16 #516
1890 11 #616
1885 8 #734
1880 14 #491

Famous people named Howell

The most globally famous bearers of the name, ranked by fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

  1. 1 Howell Cobb Howell Cobb American politician and Confederate States Army officer (1815–1868) 19th century

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Howell, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Howell?

The median living Howell is about 67 years old. Half of all living Howells are between 54 and 77 years old.

How many people named Howell are alive today?

An estimated 1,400 people named Howell are alive in the United States, based on 3,923 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Howell mean?

From Welsh Hywel. Doublet of Huell and Powell.

How popular is the name Howell in 2025?

Howell ranked #6,947 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 12 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Howell?

3,923 babies have been named Howell in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Howell most popular?

Howell peaked in 1920, when 93 newborns received the name.

Is Howell a boy or girl name?

Howell is overwhelmingly a boy's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Howell rising or falling?

Howell is on the rise, noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.

Who are famous people named Howell?

Well-known people named Howell include Howell Cobb (politician).

Names like Howell

Names that sound and feel close to Howell: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Howell with similar names → More names starting with H →