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Howell

♂ Boy

Pronounced HOW-ul /ˈhaʊ.əl/High

Meaning: An Anglicized form of the Welsh Hywel — 'eminent; conspicuous; prominent'Low

In 30 seconds: Eminent; conspicuous: Howell is the Welsh Hywel. Crisp, classic, and warm.

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Origin LowWelsh

MeaningAn Anglicized form of the Welsh Hywel — 'eminent; conspicuous; prominent'

U.S. rank (2025)#6947 ↗ Rising

2025 U.S. births12 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year1920

Total births (all-time)≈ 3,923

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Howell is an Anglicized form of the Welsh Hywel — 'eminent; conspicuous; prominent' (borne by Hywel Dda, the medieval lawgiver-king of Wales). A crisp, classic name (said 'HOW-ul').

In the U.S. it appears as a surname-style and Welsh name. Rare, eminent-and-conspicuous at the root, and classic.

Did you know? Hywel means 'eminent; conspicuous; prominent' in Welsh (Hywel Dda, the great lawgiver-king) — Howell is the Anglicized form, crisp and classic (said 'HOW-ul').

Overall data confidence 46%

References — Hywel — Welsh etymology

Variations

HywelHowelPowell

Nicknames

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Howell mean?

Howell is an Anglicized Welsh Hywel — 'eminent; conspicuous; prominent'.

How do you pronounce Howell?

It's said HOW-ul /ˈhaʊ.əl/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Howell a boy or girl name?

Howell is a boy's name.

How popular is Howell?

Howell is a rare name in the U.S.