The story behind Gustav
A common royal name in Sweden, from Old Swedish Gøtstaf, from Old Norse Gautr (“Geat/Goth”) + stafr (“staff”). The oldest record in Sweden dates back to the year 1225 ("Gostauus"). In Peder Swart's chronicle about Gustav Vasa dated in the mid-1500s, the name is spelled Götstaff and is assumed to mean "Staff of the Geats."
Other language forms and explanations (3)
Czech entry
Derived from Swedish Gustav
Danish entry
From Swedish Gustav
German entry
From Swedish Gustav
Pronunciation
US English (ARPAbet): G UH1 S T AA0 F
Regional pronunciation variants
- Czech: [ˈɡustaf]
- Danish: [ˈkɔsˌtɑw]
- German: /ˈɡʊstaf/
This is a US English dictionary reading of the spelling; personal pronunciations may differ. Digits mark stress: 0 is unstressed, 1 is primary, 2 is secondary. Pronunciation source and notation.
Popularity
Gustav ranked #3686 in US for 2025.
Source: SSA national baby names
Names Similar to Gustav
Gustáv
Derived from Swedish Gustav.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends V
- same syllable count
- similar length
Gaurav
Learned borrowing from Sanskrit गौरव (gaurava, “cumbrousness, importance”).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends V
- same syllable count
- similar length
Gandalf
From Old Norse mythology Gandalfr (“elf familiar”). It may be reinforced by various similar names in Medieval Latin, like a few saints and clergymen.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends F
- same syllable count
- similar length
Garrett
A medieval English and Irish form of the Germanic given names Gerard and Gerald. Of Old High German origin.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends T
- same syllable count
- similar length
Gary
Medieval short form of Germanic compound names beginning with gari or geri ("spear"), such as Gerard, Garrett, Gerald, or Gerbert. Cognate with the Scottish and Irish name…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends Y
- same syllable count
- similar length
Geoffrey
From Middle English Geffrey, from an Old French aristocratic name, Geoffroi [dʒɔfreʲ] (> West Middle French Geoffrey, East Middle French Geoffroy), itself from Proto-French…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends Y
- same syllable count
- similar length
Middle Names for Gustav
Abelard
From French Abélard, an extension of the Abel with an Germanic suffix -(h)ard. Possibly also regarded a variant of the German Eberhard "boar" + "hard", equivalent to English…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends D
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Adalbertas
Learned borrowing from Latin Adalbertus, from Proto-West Germanic *Aþalaberht, from Proto-Germanic *Aþalaberhtaz. Compare German Adalbert and Latvian Adalberts.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 4 syllables
- Ending
- ends S
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Adela
Latinate form of French Adèle, short form of Germanic compound names beginning with Proto-Germanic *aþalaz (“noble”). Compare Old English æþele, English athel. Borrowed from…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Sibling Names for Gustav
Aadolf
From Swedish Adolf, of Germanic origin (from Old High German adal (“noble”) + wolf (“wolf”)). Cognate with English Adolf, Adolph.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends F
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Abelard
From French Abélard, an extension of the Abel with an Germanic suffix -(h)ard. Possibly also regarded a variant of the German Eberhard "boar" + "hard", equivalent to English…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends D
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Adel
Ultimately from Proto-Germanic *aþalaz. The female name is a rare variant of Adele. The surname is borrowed from German Adel. Variant of Adil, from Arabic عَادِل (ʕādil).
- Gender
- mixed
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends L
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length