Howell
Meaningeminent · Welsh form of Hywel
- US rank
- #6,803
- Syllables
- 2
- Peak
- #482 in 1880
12 babies were named Howell in the US in 2025. It has dropped 823 places in five years.
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US births per million boys, 1880–2025
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Howell you might not know, from US birth records. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
- How commonAbout 1 in every 142,857 baby boys born in the US in 2025 was named Howell, 12 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Howell would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryHowell has been in use since at least 1880, the first year US birth records were kept. That's 145 years of Howells, and counting.
- Best yearIt was far more popular in 1880, when it ranked #482. Today it's #6,803, so it could be due a comeback.
- TrendHowell has slipped 823 places over the last five years and now sits at #6,803. Good news if you want a familiar name that fewer kids will share.
- MeaningHowell is a Welsh form of Hywel, which means “eminent”.
About the name Howell
Howell is a boy name of Welsh origin meaning “eminent”. It has 6 letters and 2 syllables, starting with H and ending in “-ell”. US birth records list Howell for boys from 1880 to 2025, in 132 of those 146 years. Its best year was 1880, when it ranked #482 among boy names. In 2025 it ranked #6,803, with 12 babies.
Origin:Welsh names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 85 | 11,780 boys |
| 1890s | 85 | 11,723 boys |
| 1900s | 75 | 13,335 boys |
| 1910s | 76 | 13,212 boys |
| 1920s | 66 | 15,094 boys |
| 1930s | 58 | 17,376 boys |
| 1940s | 38 | 26,192 boys |
| 1950s | 27 | 37,037 boys |
| 1960s | 15 | 66,979 boys |
| 1970s | 8.3 | 120,773 boys |
| 1980s | 4.2 | 235,849 boys |
| 1990s | 2.3 | 431,034 boys |
| 2000s | 2.3 | 440,529 boys |
| 2010s | 1.9 | 520,833 boys |
| 2020s | 6.3 | 159,574 boys |
More Welsh boy names
- Unisex name: Owen · well-born
- Unisex name: Dylan · great tide
- Unisex name: Rowan · little red-haired one
- Boy name: Arthur · possibly bear
- Unisex name: Kai · sea
- Boy name: Bryson · son of Brice
- Boy name: Evan · God is gracious
- Unisex name: Maddox · son of Madoc
Questions about the name Howell
What does the name Howell mean?
Howell means “eminent” in Welsh, as a form of Hywel.
What is the origin of the name Howell?
Howell has Welsh roots in our records. Other Welsh names include Owen, Dylan, Rowan.
Is Howell a boy or girl name?
Howell is a boy name.
How popular is the name Howell?
Howell ranked #6,803 for US boys in 2025, given to 12 babies. Its best year was 1880 (#482).