How Many People Are Named Percival?
Complete statistics for the name Percival: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.
Percival, a very rare male name, is held by just 839 people in the US today, making up 1 in 393,536 Americans. This name is on the rise, peaking in 2024 with 93 births.
📖 Meaning & Origin
Traditionally, life-path number 5 represents freedom and adventure.
🌍 Worldwide Usage
⚥ Gender Distribution
📊 Births by Age Group
Avg Cohort Age: 57All 1,353 recorded US births for this name, grouped by the age those individuals would be today. Not adjusted for survival, so the number living today is lower (see the living estimate above).
📈 Popularity Over Time
Peak: 2024Annual US births from SSA records · Trend: Rising
🏆 Name Scorecard
Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency
📜 Percival Through the Generations
Percival, a name steeped in legend and rarity, has seen a resurgence in recent years. With only 1,353 total births recorded throughout history, it's clear that Percival remains a niche choice. The current estimate of 839 living individuals suggests a strong community of older generations, with 46% over the age of 60, indicating a name that's both timeless and increasingly favored by younger parents.
📍 State Distribution (Top 10)
⭐ Famous People Named 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.…
Full list on Wikipedia →🌿 Related Names by Origin
Other names sharing Percival's Welsh roots
📄 About the Name Percival
How Many People Have the Name Percival?
Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 3,169 people in the United States currently share the name Percival. That works out to roughly 1 in every 104,591 Americans, placing it in the Very Rare category.
Is Percival a Common or Rare Name?
Percival is classified as Very Rare. The rarity scale runs from Very Common (shared by millions) through Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Very Rare. Understanding where a name sits helps parents gauge uniqueness, genealogists narrow down records, and individuals settle debates about their own name's distinctiveness.
What Does the Name Percival Mean?
Percival means "Knightly hero" and comes from Welsh origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 5.
Gender Breakdown
Of all recorded bearers of Percival in SSA data, approximately 100% are male and 0% are female.
When Was Percival Most Popular?
The name Percival reached peak popularity in 2024, with 93 babies registered that year. Current trend: Rising.
How Is This Data Calculated?
All figures are statistical estimates, not exact government headcounts. The underlying data comes from the SSA National Baby Names dataset. Full methodology is explained on the methodology page.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How many people are named Percival?
Approximately 3,169 people named Percival live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 3,169. That works out to roughly 1 in 104,591 Americans.
Is Percival a rare name?
Percival is classified as Very Rare in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 104,591 Americans has this name.
What does the name Percival mean?
Percival means "Knightly hero" and comes from Welsh origins.
Is Percival more male or female?
Based on SSA records, 100% of people named Percival are male and 0% are female.
When was Percival most popular?
Percival peaked in 2024 with 93 births that year. Current trend: Rising.
How accurate are these statistics?
All figures are statistical estimates based on SSA birth records and age-adjusted modeling. See the methodology page for full details.