Percival Boy
Origin(s)
PronunciationPUR-sih-vuhl / /ˈpɜːrsɪvəl/Old French; Latin
Meaning
Old French: 'pierce the valley'; Latin: 'to pierce'
Historical & Cultural Background
Percival is a name of Arthurian legend, associated with one of King Arthur's knights. He is often depicted as a noble and pure character, known for his quest for the Holy Grail. The name has been used in various literary works, contributing to its popularity in medieval and modern contexts. It has also been adapted into various forms across different cultures.
Trend Summary
The name Percival has seen fluctuating popularity, with a notable presence in historical contexts but less common in recent years.
Similar Names
Variants
- Percy
- Perceval
International Variants
- Perceval (French)
- Percival (English)
- Parzival (German)
Famous people named Percival
Percival Lowell was an American astronomer known for his studies of Mars and the concept of canals on the planet.
Percival Pott was an English surgeon who made significant contributions to the field of surgery and is known for Pott's disease.
Percival McGowan was a notable Australian politician who served in various capacities during the early 20th century.
Percival Harrison Fawcett was a British geographer and archaeologist who disappeared in the Amazon rainforest during an expedition.
Fictional characters named Percival
Percival is a character in the Arthurian legends, known as one of the Knights of the Round Table.
Sibling Suggestions
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Percival was first seen in the United States in 1880. Percival has ranked as high as #1267 nationally, which occurred in 2024, and has been most popular in Texas, California, New York, Washington, and Wisconsin. In the past 5 years the name Percival has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
Top States for Percival (2024)
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| TX | 8 | |
| WI | 6 | |
| MO | 6 | |
| WA | 6 | |
| TN | 5 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880 | 7 |
| 1881 | 7 |
| 1882 | 6 |
| 1883 | 5 |
| 1884 | 6 |
| 1885 | 7 |
| 1886 | 8 |
| 1888 | 5 |
| 1889 | 6 |
| 1890 | 5 |
| 1891 | 6 |
| 1892 | 9 |
| 1893 | 7 |
| 1894 | 8 |
| 1897 | 8 |
| 1900 | 7 |
| 1901 | 7 |
| 1902 | 8 |
| 1903 | 5 |
| 1904 | 5 |
| 1905 | 7 |
| 1908 | 6 |
| 1912 | 16 |
| 1913 | 11 |
| 1914 | 11 |
| 1915 | 11 |
| 1916 | 17 |
| 1917 | 13 |
| 1918 | 18 |
| 1919 | 10 |
| 1920 | 12 |
| 1921 | 22 |
| 1922 | 25 |
| 1923 | 9 |
| 1924 | 10 |
| 1925 | 10 |
| 1926 | 19 |
| 1927 | 7 |
| 1928 | 14 |
| 1929 | 9 |
| 1930 | 9 |
| 1931 | 9 |
| 1932 | 8 |
| 1933 | 8 |
| 1934 | 7 |
| 1935 | 6 |
| 1937 | 8 |
| 1941 | 5 |
| 1942 | 6 |
| 1943 | 6 |
| 1944 | 6 |
| 1946 | 8 |
| 1947 | 7 |
| 1949 | 6 |
| 1950 | 7 |
| 1951 | 5 |
| 1952 | 8 |
| 1953 | 5 |
| 1954 | 6 |
| 1955 | 8 |
| 1956 | 7 |
| 1957 | 12 |
| 1958 | 6 |
| 1959 | 10 |
| 1960 | 6 |
| 1961 | 8 |
| 1962 | 7 |
| 1963 | 6 |
| 1964 | 13 |
| 1965 | 14 |
| 1966 | 7 |
| 1968 | 7 |
| 1969 | 8 |
| 1970 | 7 |
| 1971 | 15 |
| 1972 | 9 |
| 1973 | 10 |
| 1974 | 6 |
| 1975 | 8 |
| 1976 | 10 |
| 1977 | 11 |
| 1978 | 5 |
| 1979 | 6 |
| 1980 | 6 |
| 1981 | 8 |
| 1982 | 5 |
| 1983 | 16 |
| 1984 | 8 |
| 1985 | 6 |
| 1986 | 7 |
| 1987 | 7 |
| 1988 | 6 |
| 1989 | 6 |
| 1990 | 6 |
| 1991 | 6 |
| 1992 | 6 |
| 1993 | 9 |
| 1994 | 6 |
| 1995 | 5 |
| 1996 | 6 |
| 1997 | 6 |
| 1998 | 5 |
| 1999 | 7 |
| 2000 | 6 |
| 2001 | 6 |
| 2004 | 5 |
| 2006 | 6 |
| 2007 | 8 |
| 2009 | 5 |
| 2010 | 6 |
| 2011 | 13 |
| 2012 | 9 |
| 2013 | 8 |
| 2014 | 16 |
| 2015 | 16 |
| 2016 | 12 |
| 2017 | 19 |
| 2018 | 19 |
| 2019 | 38 |
| 2020 | 46 |
| 2021 | 46 |
| 2022 | 51 |
| 2023 | 63 |
| 2024 | 93 |