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Gustaf
How to Pronounce Gustaf
Pronounced GOO-stahf /ˈɡuːstɑːf/High
Meaning: Gustaf is the Swedish spelling of Gustav, a royal Scandinavian name usually explained from Old Norse elements meaning 'staff of the Goths' or 'meditation staff'. Borne by several kings of Sweden, it came to America with Swedish immigrants, who kept the -f spelling of the homeland.Low
Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data
U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.
SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.
History & Origin
Gustaf is the Swedish form of Gustav, generally traced to Old Norse elements for a 'staff' and the Goths. A name of Swedish kings, it travelled to the United States with Scandinavian immigrant families, who preferred the homeland spelling with a final f.
It was never common in America, a couple dozen boys a year at most around the nineteen-teens, and it faded as families anglicised. A boy given it then would be a great-grandfather now, and it reads as a Swedish immigrant-era name rather than a current choice.
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Frequently Asked
What does the name Gustaf mean?
It's the Swedish form of Gustav, usually traced to Old Norse for a 'staff of the Goths'.
How do you pronounce Gustaf?
It's said GOO-stahf /ˈɡuːstɑːf/, two syllables, stress on the first.
Is Gustaf a boy or girl name?
Gustaf is used as a boy's name.
Is Gustaf a popular name?
No, it was always rare in America, a Swedish immigrant-era name seen only slightly in the early twentieth century.