Percival
Percival: name meaning, origin and popularity
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈpɜː(ɹ)sɪvəl/
Meaning and origin of Percival
Root meaning: “pierce”
- A male given name from the Celtic languages.
Etymology
From Old French Perceval, name of a knight in a twelfth century Arthurian romance by the French poet Chrétien de Troyes. Shaped like Old French percier (“pierce”) + val (“valley”), but probably representing some Gaulish or Old Welsh name, possibly related to Welsh Peredur, from ber (“spear, lance”) (from Middle Welsh ber, from Proto-Brythonic *ber, from Proto-Celtic *beru (“spit”)) + dur (“hard metal, steel”) (see Latin durus). Cognate with German Parzival and Parsifal.
How popular is Percival?
Since 1880, 1,466 boys in the U.S. have been named Percival. Its highest rank for boys was #744 in 1886. In 2025, 113 babies were given the name, outside the top 1,000.
Names similar to Percival
Names that start with the same letters, most popular first.
More Celtic boy names
Sibling name ideas for Percival
Sister and brother names that share Percival's Celtic roots and are still in the U.S. top 1,000.
Percival FAQ
What does the name Percival mean?
Percival traces back to a root meaning "pierce". A male given name from the Celtic languages. From Old French Perceval, name of a knight in a twelfth century Arthurian romance by the French poet Chrétien de Troyes. Shaped like Old French percier (“pierce”) + val (“valley”), but probably representing some Gaulish or Old Welsh name, possibly related to Welsh Peredur, from ber (“spear, lance”) (from Middle Welsh ber, from Proto-Brythonic *ber, from Proto-Celtic *beru (“spit”)) + dur (“hard metal, steel”) (see Latin durus). Cognate with German Parzival and Parsifal.
What is the origin of the name Percival?
Percival is listed as a name of Celtic origin.
How popular is the name Percival?
Since 1880, 1,466 boys in the U.S. have been named Percival. Its highest rank for boys was #744 in 1886. In 2025, 113 babies were given the name, outside the top 1,000.
Is Percival a boy or girl name?
Percival is mostly a boy name in the U.S.: 0 girls and 1,466 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.