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Gustavo

♂ Boy

Pronounced goo-STAH-voh /ɡuːˈstɑː.voʊ/High

Meaning: Spanish and Italian form of Gustav, from Old Swedish Göstaff or Germanic Gus (Geat people) and stafr ('staff,' 'support'), meaning 'staff of the Goths' or 'royal support'; possibly also 'guest of the Goths'Medium

In 30 seconds: Gustavo is the warm Spanish and Italian form of Gustav — 'staff of the Goths' — with a Scandinavian warrior heritage filtered through centuries of Romance-language elegance.
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Origin HighGermanic, Spanish
MeaningSpanish and Italian form of Gustav, from Old Swedish Göstaff or Germanic Gus (Geat people) and stafr ('staff,' 'support'), meaning 'staff of the Goths' or 'royal support'; possibly also 'guest of the Goths'
U.S. rank (2025)#625 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births447 boys (0.02% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2000
Total births (all-time)≈ 40,351

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 200019112025

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

History & Origin

Gustavo is the Spanish and Italian form of Gustav, from Old Norse or Old Swedish Göstaff — likely composed of the tribal name Gautr (Geat, a Gothic/Germanic people) and stafr ('staff,' 'support'). The name was carried by Swedish royalty and became embedded in Latin cultures through trade, diplomacy, and immigration.

Gustavo has been a popular boys' name across Latin America, Spain, and Italy for centuries. In the United States it ranks steadily in the top 300 boys' names, used by families with Mexican, Colombian, Brazilian, and Argentine heritage. Breaking Bad's Gustavo Fring gave the name a sharp pop-culture identity in 2008–2011.

Did you know? Six Swedish kings bore the name Gustav/Gustaf — including Gustav Vasa (1496–1560), who liberated Sweden from Danish rule and is considered the father of the Swedish nation — giving Gustavo a royal pedigree spanning five centuries of Scandinavian history.
Overall data confidence 84%
Behind the Name — Gustav — Germanic/Norse etymologyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

GustavGustafGus

Nicknames

GusTavo

Famous Bearers

  • ★Gustavo Dudamel (1981–present)
    Venezuelan conductor and musical director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

If you like Gustavo…

Augusto— three-syllable Latin-Spanish classic with the same Romance-language royal grandeur
Rodrigo— three-syllable Spanish medieval classic with the same Latin American prevalence
Julio— classic Spanish three-syllable boys' name with the same warm Mediterranean character
Ernesto— three-syllable Spanish name with the same Germanic roots and Latin American popularity

Frequently Asked

What does the name Gustavo mean?

Gustavo is the Spanish form of Gustav, from Old Norse meaning 'staff of the Goths' or 'royal support,' combining the tribal name Gautr and stafr (staff).

How do you pronounce Gustavo?

It is said goo-STAH-voh — three syllables with stress on the second.

Is Gustavo a boy or girl name?

Gustavo is exclusively a boys' name; the feminine form is Gustava.

How popular is Gustavo?

Gustavo ranks in the U.S. top 300 boys' names and is extremely popular across Latin America and among Latin American heritage families in the U.S.