Howl
A masculine name derived from the howling sound of the wind.
Name Census estimates that about 53 living Americans carry the first name Howl. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Howl today is around 4 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Howl births was 2024 (14 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Howl. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Howl. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
53
~ 1 in 6,467,063 Americans
Peak year
2024
14 babies that year
Average age
4
years old
2024 SSA rank
#6,261
Tracked since 2019
Popularity
Howl: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Howl from the 2010s through to the 2020s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2020s, with 48 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Howl by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Howl during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Howl
The name Howl has an intriguing and multifaceted history that spans various cultures and time periods. Its origins can be traced back to the Old English word "hulan," which means "to howl" or "to wail." This connection to the howling sound made by certain animals, particularly wolves, suggests that the name may have initially been attributed to individuals with a powerful or distinctive voice.
In the Middle Ages, the name Howl appeared in various literary works and historical records. One notable example is the Icelandic saga known as the "Saga of the Greenlanders," which mentions a character named Howl Ericsson, a Viking explorer who is said to have sailed to North America around the year 1000 CE.
During the Renaissance period, the name Howl gained prominence in England and other parts of Europe. A notable figure from this era was Howl Shakespeare, a distant relative of the renowned playwright William Shakespeare. Howl Shakespeare was a respected scholar and author, known for his works on philosophy and literature.
In the 18th century, the name Howl was associated with the romantic literary movement. One of the most celebrated figures bearing this name was the English poet Howl Wordsworth (1770-1850), whose works celebrated nature and the human spirit. His poem "Lines Composed a Few Miles Above Tintern Abbey" is considered a classic of English literature.
Moving into the 19th century, the name Howl found its way into the world of classical music. Howl Berlioz (1803-1869), a French Romantic composer, is renowned for his innovative and emotionally charged compositions, such as the "Symphonie Fantastique."
In more recent times, the name Howl has been associated with counterculture movements and avant-garde art. The Beat Generation writer Howl Ginsberg (1926-1997) was a pivotal figure in the American literary scene of the 1950s and 1960s. His controversial poem "Howl" became a landmark work, challenging social norms and celebrating individual expression.
These are just a few examples of the diverse individuals who have borne the name Howl throughout history. While the name may have originated from a simple descriptive term, it has evolved to carry a rich tapestry of cultural and artistic significance, reflecting the power of human expression and the enduring influence of creative voices.
People
Howl + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Howl as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with H
Other first names starting with H with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Howl: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Howl?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 53 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Howl going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 6,467,063 US residents.
Is Howl a common name?
We classify Howl as "Very Rare". It ranks above 55.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 53 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Howl most popular?
The single biggest year for Howl was 2024, when 14 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Howl is about 4 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Howl a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Howl in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.