Gustaf Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: GOOS-taaf //ˈɡʊstɑːf//
Origin: Scandinavian; Old Norse
Meaning: Staff of the Goths; royal staff
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Gustaf has its roots in the Old Norse name Guðstafr, which is composed of the elements 'guð' meaning 'god' and 'stafr' meaning 'staff' or 'support.' This name evolved through various linguistic stages, transitioning from Old Norse to the medieval Scandinavian forms, and eventually to the modern Swedish Gustaf. The name was introduced into English through the influence of Scandinavian languages, particularly during the Viking Age and subsequent interactions between the Norse and Anglo-Saxon cultures.
Historically, the name Gustaf is notably associated with several Swedish kings, particularly Gustaf I, who reigned in the 16th century and is recognized for founding the modern Swedish state. His reign marked the establishment of the Vasa dynasty, which played a significant role in shaping Sweden's national identity.
The name continued to be borne by subsequent monarchs, including Gustaf II Adolf, a prominent figure in the Thirty Years' War during the 17th century, further cementing its historical significance in Swedish history. Culturally, the name Gustaf has been embraced in various forms of literature and art, often symbolizing strength and leadership.
Its historical resonance is enhanced by its association with notable figures in Swedish history and the broader Scandinavian context. The name has also inspired various diminutive forms, such as Gustafsson, which denotes 'son of Gustaf,' reflecting the patronymic naming traditions prevalent in Scandinavian cultures.
Overall, the name Gustaf carries a legacy that intertwines linguistic evolution, royal heritage, and cultural symbolism.
Famous people named Gustaf
In this section, you will find notable people named Gustaf. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Gustaf who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Gustaf who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Gustaf Skarsgård is an actor best known for Vikings, Westworld, and The Way Back.
Gustaf Fröding is a poet best known for his works such as Stänk och flikar, and his influence on Swedish literature.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Gustaf, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Gustaf. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Gustaf was first seen in the United States in 1880.
Gustaf has ranked as high as #2770 nationally, which occurred in 1917, and has been most popular in Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Pennsylvania, and Illinois.
In the past 5 years the name Gustaf has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Gustaf is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Gustaf was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Gustaf.
| Year | Total Births | Boy |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 5 | 5 |
| 2020 | 8 | 8 |
| 2018 | 6 | 6 |
| 2017 | 10 | 10 |
| 2015 | 6 | 6 |
| 2014 | 8 | 8 |
| 2012 | 6 | 6 |
| 2011 | 7 | 7 |
| 2010 | 7 | 7 |
| 2009 | 6 | 6 |
| 2008 | 10 | 10 |
| 2007 | 11 | 11 |
| 2005 | 6 | 6 |
| 2004 | 6 | 6 |
| 2003 | 5 | 5 |
| 2002 | 7 | 7 |
| 2001 | 5 | 5 |
| 2000 | 5 | 5 |
| 1998 | 7 | 7 |
| 1997 | 9 | 9 |
| 1996 | 5 | 5 |
| 1995 | 8 | 8 |
| 1993 | 7 | 7 |
| 1992 | 7 | 7 |
| 1989 | 8 | 8 |
| 1986 | 9 | 9 |
| 1985 | 5 | 5 |
| 1984 | 5 | 5 |
| 1980 | 5 | 5 |
| 1976 | 6 | 6 |
| 1973 | 6 | 6 |
| 1962 | 5 | 5 |
| 1961 | 5 | 5 |
| 1959 | 5 | 5 |
| 1958 | 5 | 5 |
| 1956 | 7 | 7 |
| 1954 | 5 | 5 |
| 1953 | 6 | 6 |
| 1951 | 5 | 5 |
| 1941 | 6 | 6 |
| 1934 | 5 | 5 |
| 1933 | 6 | 6 |
| 1932 | 5 | 5 |
| 1931 | 5 | 5 |
| 1930 | 14 | 14 |
| 1929 | 11 | 11 |
| 1928 | 13 | 13 |
| 1927 | 5 | 5 |
| 1926 | 17 | 17 |
| 1925 | 10 | 10 |
| 1924 | 7 | 7 |
| 1923 | 11 | 11 |
| 1922 | 14 | 14 |
| 1921 | 15 | 15 |
| 1920 | 13 | 13 |
| 1919 | 21 | 21 |
| 1918 | 13 | 13 |
| 1917 | 25 | 25 |
| 1916 | 18 | 18 |
| 1915 | 24 | 24 |
| 1914 | 16 | 16 |
| 1913 | 15 | 15 |
| 1912 | 11 | 11 |
| 1911 | 6 | 6 |
| 1909 | 8 | 8 |
| 1908 | 8 | 8 |
| 1907 | 7 | 7 |
| 1906 | 6 | 6 |
| 1905 | 9 | 9 |
| 1904 | 5 | 5 |
| 1902 | 7 | 7 |
| 1901 | 5 | 5 |
| 1899 | 6 | 6 |
| 1898 | 7 | 7 |
| 1897 | 9 | 9 |
| 1896 | 8 | 8 |
| 1895 | 6 | 6 |
| 1894 | 6 | 6 |
| 1893 | 7 | 7 |
| 1891 | 8 | 8 |
| 1890 | 9 | 9 |
| 1889 | 10 | 10 |
| 1888 | 5 | 5 |
| 1887 | 9 | 9 |
| 1885 | 5 | 5 |
| 1884 | 11 | 11 |
| 1883 | 8 | 8 |
| 1882 | 7 | 7 |
| 1881 | 5 | 5 |
| 1880 | 6 | 6 |
Top States for Gustaf (1928)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| NY | 5 |