Meaning & origin
How it developed
In English usage, Howie as a surname is a diminutive of Hugh.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1943. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Howie through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 788
- 788 boys · 0 girls
- Most popular year
- 1957
- 33 babies
- 2025
- 21
- #4,770 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +47%
- Rising
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 21 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 4,770 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 46.8% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 33 in 1957. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 918 as a first name in 2020; 3,855 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Howie’s family of names
In English usage, Howie is a diminutive of Howard. Howie has a related form in Howard. In English usage, Howie has a short form in Howard.
Inner ring: spellings · outer: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 2
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 2
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
People named Howie
- Howie DoroughAmerican singerborn 1973
- Howie MandelCanadian comedian, television personality, screenwriter, actor, voice actor, producer, director, entrepreneur, game show host, author and podcasterborn 1955
- Howie HawkinsAmerican activist and trade unionist from Californiaborn 1952
- Howie MorenzCanadian ice hockey player (1902–1937)
- Howie Williamsbasketball player (1927–2004)
- Howie DayAmerican musicianborn 1981
- Howie LongAmerican football defensive end, actor, and sports analystborn 1960
- Howie DallmarAmerican basketball player and coach (1922–1991)
- Howie ShannonAmerican basketball player (1923-1995)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Howie, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Hal
“the ruler of the house” · “home”
>99% boys
Gale
“a foreigner” · “one who is cheerful”
85% boys · 15% girls
Derwin
“a friend of the deer; a gifted friend”
>99% boys
Monte
“of the steep mountain” · “from the pointed mountain”
99% boys · 1% girls
Dale
“from the small valley” · “from the valley”
97% boys · 3% girls
Carlton
“from the free man's town”
>99% boys
Kemp
“the champion”
>99% boys
Rick
“a powerful ruler”
>99% boys