Origin, Meaning, And History Of Percival
Percival is an English name that has its origins in Arthurian Romance and Welsh mythology. The name was coined by Chrétien de Troyes, a French poet of the 12th century, for his poem ‘Perceval, the Story of the Grail.’ He may have derived the name from the Old French ‘perce val,’ meaning ‘pierce the valley,’ or based it on the Welsh name Peredur, which possibly means ‘hard spears’ from Welsh’ peri’ for ‘spears’ and ‘dur’ for ‘hard’ or ‘steel.’
Percival, a Welsh boy, aspired to be a knight under King Arthur. He caught a glimpse of the Grail at Fisher King’s castle, making him the first hero of the Grail quest. Later, Galahad replaced him. The name Percival still exists as a given name, surname, and place name.
Percival is a two-syllable name pronounced as ‘p(e)-rci-val,’ ‘per-cival,’ or ‘PUR-si-val.’ Its variations include Perceval, Parzival, Parsafal, and Persifal. Additionally, Percy is a popular nickname if you want to name your child Percival.
The name Percival has been adopted by various notable figures throughout history. Harry ‘Whipper’ Watson in ice hockey and Rupert Julian in filmmaking both had Percival in their names. Cecil Taylor was a musician who adopted Percival as a middle name. Two Olympic medalists, Edward Percival Peter, and Percival Kinnear Wise, won bronze medals in swimming and polo, respectively. And P. J. Patterson, who served as the Prime Minister of Jamaica from 1992 to 2006, had Percival as his first name.
Percival has been used in various literary works and mythologies. For example, the Harry Potter series features two characters named Percival, i.e., Albus Dumbledore’s father, and Percy, the older brother of Ron Weasley. Furthermore, Percival Graves appears in the film Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them. Finally, in Critical Role, Percival Fredrickstein Von Musel Klossowski de Rolo III is a member of the Vox Machina team.
Percival
Boy
Judaism
French, United States
5
Three
1 word, 8 letters, 3 vowels, 5 consonants
Medium length and moderately easy to pronounce
How To Pronounce Percival?
The way you pronounce a name can make all the difference.
Listen to the sound of the name Percival in English.
Percival On The Popularity Chart
Using data from the Social Security Administration as a source, the graphs demonstrate the changes in the popularity of the name Percival over time.
Popularity Over Time
At its highest point of popularity in 2020 and 2021, only 46 babies per million were given the name Percival, indicating that it is not a widely used name yet.
Source: Social Security AdministrationRank Over Time
The name Percival has experienced variations in its ranking and has not yet reached the top 1000 names list.
Source: Social Security AdministrationNames With Similar Sound To Percival
Take a look at this list of names that have a similar sound to Percival if you’re on the hunt for some similar name ideas.
Popular Sibling Names For Percival
If you are looking for some matching sibling names that resonate with Percival, check our suggestions here.
Boy Sibling Names For Percival
Find matching brother names for Percival and create a wonderful team of siblings.
BeresfordBrissen Brycen Paris Parsifal Percivale Percy Piercy Pierse Pierson Girl Sibling Names For Percival
Looking for some suitable sister names for Percival? Check out our collection of beautiful and unique names.
BaarizahBarsana Barzah Berezira Bersaba Birsen Breeze Breezie Bricia Brisa Other Popular Names Beginning With P
Looking for more baby names starting with the letter P to resonate with your family’s naming tradition or to rhyme with the sibling names? Find a range of alternative names starting with this letter.
Names With Similar Meaning As Percival
Check out the following list to find names that share similar or related meanings with Percival.
Infographic: Know The Name Percival‘s Personality As Per Numerology
Illustration: Momjunction Design Team
Get high-quality PDF version by clicking below.
Download Infographic
How To Communicate The Name Percival In Other Languages
In Nautical Flags
percival
In Sign Language
percival
In Braille Alphabet
percival
In Morse Code
percival
Name Numerology For Percival
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the meaning of the name Percival?
The name Percival means name of a knight, and from the valley.
2. What is the origin of the name Percival?
Percival has a French and United States origin.
3. How to pronounce the name Percival?
Percival is pronounced as puhr-sih-vohl.
4. Is Percival a rare name?
Percival is considered a rare name in modern times. It has origins in Old French and is derived from the name Perceval, which was popularized by Arthurian legends and the character of Sir Percival. In the USA, the name was featured among the Top 1000 names for the last time in 1902 (1).
5. Who is Percival in Greek mythology?
The name Percival and its associated stories are more closely related to Arthurian legends and medieval literature, particularly in the context of the Knights of the Round Table. Percival, also known as Sir Percival or Perceval, is a knight known for his quest for the Holy Grail.
6. Is Percival the name of a boy or a girl?
Percival is traditionally a masculine name and is predominantly used for boys. It has masculine associations and is historically connected to male characters in Arthurian legends and medieval literature.
References:
- Popularity of name Percival.
https://www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames/
Look Up For Many More Names
Do you have a name in mind and want to know more about it? Or want to find names belonging to a particular origin, religion, or having a specific meaning? Use our search tool below to explore more baby names with different combinations.
