# Howard

/ˈhaʊɝd/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/howard
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. a male name

noun · CEFR A1

a common first name for a man.

For teachers: a masculine given name of Germanic origin, often associated with the meaning 'brave heart' or 'high guardian'.

- My uncle Howard lives in London and works as a teacher.
- Howard was a popular name in the early twentieth century, though its frequency as a choice for newborns has declined in recent decades.

### 2. a family name

noun · CEFR A1

a common last name or family name.

For teachers: a common English surname of patronymic or occupational origin, historically associated with the Dukes of Norfolk.

- Ms. Howard is the manager of the local bank branch.
- The Howard family has a long history in this region, dating back to the original settlement of the county.

### 3. Howard University

noun · CEFR B2 · American English

a famous university in Washington, D.C.

For teachers: a private, federally chartered historically black research university (HBCU) in Washington, D.C.

- She decided to study law at Howard because of its excellent reputation.
- Many influential leaders in the American civil rights movement are alumni of Howard, reflecting the institution's central role in academic history.

## Examples

- My neighbor Howard always walks his dog in the morning.
- The company hired Howard as the new lead architect for the downtown project.
- While the name Howard reached its peak popularity in the early twentieth century, it remains a recognizable and classic choice in many English-speaking countries.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.