Percival
Percival, also spelled Perceval, is a masculine given name derived from the Celtic name Peredur and likely influenced by the Old French percer, meaning pierce and val, meaning valley. The name was likely also influenced by the name Percy. Sir Percival was one of the Knights of the Round Table in Arthurian romance.
Meaning & Origin of Percival
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Percival, also spelled Perceval, is a masculine given name derived from the Celtic name Peredur and likely influenced by the Old French percer, meaning pierce and val, meaning valley. The name was likely also influenced by the name Percy. Sir Percival was one of the Knights of the Round Table in Arthurian romance.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Percival
Percival first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 1880, with 7 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2026, when 94 Percivals were born — ranking #1,764 that year. As of 2026, Percival ranks #1,764 for baby boys with 94 births, rising sharply (+132% over the past five years). In total, more than 2K Percivals have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1880s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Percival
Phonetically similar names — useful when Percival is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Percival
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About the name Percival
Percival is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1880 and has accumulated 2K births in the dataset. Percival's peak popularity came in 2026 when it ranked #694. Use the chart and map above to compare Percival's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
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Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.