Gareth
Gareth: name meaning, origin and popularity
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈɡæɹ.əθ/ · /ˈɡæɹ.ɪθ/
Meaning and origin of Gareth
Root meaning: “old man”
- A male given name from Welsh of Welsh origin; name of a knight in the Arthurian romance.
Etymology
Of Old Welsh origin and cognate with the Welsh name Geraint (from Latin Gerontius (“old man”), from Ancient Greek γέρων (gérōn, “old man”)) or perhaps the word gwareddawg, gwaredd (“gentleness”); see gwâr (“gentle”).
How popular is Gareth?
Since 1880, 5 girls and 4,389 boys in the U.S. have been named Gareth (0% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #6269 in 1956. Its highest rank for boys was #1085 in 1970. In 2025, 46 babies were given the name, outside the top 1,000.
Names similar to Gareth
Names that start with the same letters, most popular first.
More Welsh boy names
Sibling name ideas for Gareth
Sister and brother names that share Gareth's Welsh roots and are still in the U.S. top 1,000.
Gareth FAQ
What does the name Gareth mean?
Gareth traces back to a root meaning "old man". A male given name from Welsh of Welsh origin; name of a knight in the Arthurian romance. Of Old Welsh origin and cognate with the Welsh name Geraint (from Latin Gerontius (“old man”), from Ancient Greek γέρων (gérōn, “old man”)) or perhaps the word gwareddawg, gwaredd (“gentleness”); see gwâr (“gentle”).
What is the origin of the name Gareth?
Gareth is listed as a name of Welsh origin.
How popular is the name Gareth?
Since 1880, 5 girls and 4,389 boys in the U.S. have been named Gareth (0% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #6269 in 1956. Its highest rank for boys was #1085 in 1970. In 2025, 46 babies were given the name, outside the top 1,000.
Is Gareth a boy or girl name?
Gareth is mostly a boy name in the U.S.: 5 girls and 4,389 boys since 1880.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880–2025 (names given to 5+ babies per year). Origin and etymology text: Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.