Gavin

♂ Boy

Pronounced GAV-in /ˈɡæv.ɪn/High

Meaning: White hawk; from Welsh Gawain (Gwalchgwyn): gwalch (hawk) + gwyn (white, fair, blessed)High

In 30 seconds: A Welsh name meaning 'white hawk,' the medieval form of Sir Gawain — the noble knight of King Arthur's Round Table. Its crisp sound has made it a popular modern first name.

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Origin HighWelsh

MeaningWhite hawk; from Welsh Gawain (Gwalchgwyn): gwalch (hawk) + gwyn (white, fair, blessed)

Peak year2007

Total births (all-time)≈ 172,037

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Gavin is the Scottish and modern English form of the Welsh name Gawain, itself possibly derived from Gwalchgwyn — from Welsh gwalch ('hawk') and gwyn ('white, fair, blessed'). Sir Gawain was one of the most important knights in Arthurian legend. The name has been used in Scotland since the medieval period.

Gavin was popular in Scotland for centuries and entered wider English use in the 20th century. In the United States it climbed the charts in the 1990s and 2000s, reaching a peak in the mid-2000s. It remains in the top 200 boys' names. Its friendly, approachable sound and Celtic heritage give it broad appeal.

Did you know? Sir Gawain, King Arthur's nephew, is one of the most prominent knights of the Round Table in medieval literature — the hero of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (14th century), one of English literature's greatest poems.

Variations

GawainGavan

Nicknames

Gav

Famous Bearers

★Gavin Rossdale (b. 1965)
British musician, lead singer of the rock band Bush.

If you like Gavin…

Finn— Irish Celtic name with the same crisp, two-syllable Arthurian/heroic feel

Callum— Scottish Gaelic name with the same Celtic heritage and modern appeal

Declan— Irish name in the same Celtic tradition

Frequently Asked

What does the name Gavin mean?

Gavin means 'white hawk,' as the modern form of Welsh Gawain (from gwalch, hawk, and gwyn, white/blessed).

How do you pronounce Gavin?

Gavin is pronounced GAV-in (/ˈɡæv.ɪn/) — two syllables with stress on the first.

Is Gavin a boy or girl name?

Gavin is used exclusively as a boy's name.

How popular is Gavin?

Gavin has been in the U.S. top 200 boys' names since the 1990s, peaking in the mid-2000s.