Howard is a masculine given name derived from an English surname. The surname itself has several possible origins: it may stem from the Anglo-Norman given name Huard, which in turn comes from the Germanic name Hughard; from the Anglo-Scandinavian given name Haward, derived from the Old Norse name Hávarðr, composed of the elements há ("high") and varðr ("guardian"); or from the Middle English term ewehirde, meaning "ewe herder". The surname is particularly notable as that of a British noble family, whose members have held the title Duke of Norfolk since the 15th century. The Oxford Dictionary of English Christian Names notes that the use of the surname Howard as a given name is recent and has no obvious rationale except its association with noble families. Diminutives include Howie. The name reached peak popularity in the United States in the 1920s, ranking as the 26th most popular boys' name. In subsequent decades, its usage declined, and by 2018 it had fallen to 968th place. Notable Bearers Famous individuals with the given name include American industrialist Howard Hughes (1905–1976), known for his aviation innovations and reclusive lifestyle. Other bearers include Howard Allen (1949–2020), an American serial killer; Howard Duane Allman (1946–1971), a celebrated American guitarist; composer Howard Shore; writer and filmmaker Howard Zinn; media mogul Howard Stern; and scientific skeptic James Randi, often known as Madame Zee. On the fictional side, Howard Wolowitz is a character on the television sitcom The Big Bang Theory. Meaning: Varied: high guardian, ewe herder Origin: English, Germanic, Old Norse Type: Surname used as given name Usage Regions: English-speaking countries