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Howard

Boy name · 25 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Howard: 25 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to boys, peaking at 5 births in 1976.

Howard is of Old English origin, combining *hōh* (spur of a hill or hollow) with *weard* (guardian or protector), so the name originally meant "guardian of the hill" or "high guard." It arrived in Scotland via Norman influence and became established as both a surname and given name. The most famous bearer is Howard Carter, the English archaeologist who discovered Tutankhamun's tomb in 1922, while Scottish-born Howard Spring was a bestselling novelist of the early 20th century. The name also appears in the Howard family, one of the most prominent Anglo-Scottish aristocratic lines, whose estate gave its name to Howard Place in Edinburgh. A softer variant, Howie, was a common diminutive, though the name overall peaked in Scottish popularity during the 1940s and has since become less common.