The first name Powell
A boy’s name meaning “son of hywel”.
Pronounced /ˈpaʊ.(w)əl/ 2 syllables Male Also a surname
Meaning and origin
Powell means “son of hywel”.
The anglicized form of Welsh ap Hywel (“son of Hywel”). Related to Howell and Huell. Sometimes also associated with Paul by folk etymology.
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Powell at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 9 boys born in the United States were named Powell, the 8,751st most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 1919, when 32 were.
US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.
Powell in other languages
Equivalent forms of the name, from Wiktionary
Nicknames and spellings
Other spellings and forms
- Powel
Famous people named Powell
7 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Ambrose Powell HillConfederate Army general (1825-1865)
- Baden PowellBrazilian musician (1937-2000)
- Powell ClaytonAmerican politician (1833-1914)
- Philip Powell CalvertAmerican entomologist (1871 – 1961)
- Tobin HeathAmerican soccer player, born 1988
- Surf MesaAmerican record producer and multi-instrumentalist, born 2000
- Bill LearAmerican businessman and inventor, 1902–1978
Questions
- What does the name Powell mean?
- Powell means “son of hywel”.
- Is Powell a boy's or a girl's name?
- Mostly a boy's name: 100% of the 1,491 US babies named Powell since 1880 were boys.
- When was Powell most popular?
- 1919 in the United States, when 32 babies were named Powell, its highest rank at 1,258th.
- How do you pronounce Powell?
- Powell is /ˈpaʊ.(w)əl/, 2 syllables.
- What are other spellings of Powell?
- Powel.
- Is Powell also a surname?
- Yes. Powell is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.