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Home › Baby Names Directory › Percival

Percival

♂ Boy

Pronounced PERR-sih-vuhl /ˈpɜɹ.sɪ.vəl/Medium

Meaning: Pierce the valleyMedium

In 30 seconds: Percival is the name of one of King Arthur's knights, traditionally read as 'pierce the valley'. It belongs to the world of Arthurian legend and the Grail quest.
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Origin MediumArthurian Cycle, English
MeaningPierce the valley
U.S. rank (2025)#1536 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births113 boys (0.01% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2025
Total births (all-time)≈ 1,466

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202518802025

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

Coined in medieval Arthurian romance, Percival names the knight famous for his role in the quest for the Holy Grail. The name appears across European tellings as Perceval in French and Parzival or Parsifal in German. Its parts have been read as 'pierce' and 'valley', though it is really a literary creation of the romances.

The German Parsifal later became the title of Wagner's opera, keeping the name in cultural memory. Author Percival Everett carries it today.

Did you know? The meaning usually attached to Percival is 'pierce the valley', and that core idea is what gives the name most of its long-term appeal.
Overall data confidence 78%
Behind the Name - Percival — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

ParsifalParzivalPerceval

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

  • ★Percival Kinnear Wise (1885–1968)
    Male public figure listed on Behind the Name.
  • ★Percival Everett (1956–present)
    Male public figure listed on Behind the Name.

If you like Percival…

Micheal— a fellow English choice
Neal— a similarly popular pick
Eliot— a similarly popular pick
Zackary— another English name
Zavian— shares Percival's English roots

Explore names like Percival

By themeenglish
By meaningEarth / Nature

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Percival mean?

Percival is usually explained as meaning 'pierce the valley' and is most often linked with Arthurian Cycle tradition.

How do you pronounce Percival?

It's commonly said PERR-sih-vuhl /ˈpɜɹ.sɪ.vəl/.

Is Percival a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Percival is used as a boy name.

How popular is Percival?

In 2024, Percival ranked #1768 in the U.S. for boys, with 93 births recorded.

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