The story behind Percival
From Old French Perceval, name of a knight in a twelfth century Arthurian romance by the French poet Chrétien de Troyes. Shaped like Old French percier (“pierce”) + val (“valley”), but probably representing some Gaulish or Old Welsh name, possibly related to Welsh Peredur, from ber (“spear, lance”) (from Middle Welsh ber, from Proto-Brythonic *ber, from Proto-Celtic *beru (“spit”)) + dur (“hard metal, steel”) (see Latin durus). Cognate with German Parzival and Parsifal.
Pronunciation
English; dialect unspecified: /ˈpɜː(ɹ)sɪvəl/
Popularity
Percival ranked #1536 in US for 2025.
Source: SSA national baby names
Names Similar to Percival
Parimal
Borrowed from Sanskrit परिमल (parimala).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends L
- same syllable count
- similar length
Abigail
From Hebrew אֲבִיגַיִל (avigáyil, “Abigail”, literally “my Father's joy” or “fountain of joy”). a female given name from Hebrew, equivalent to English Abigail Borrowed from…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends L
- same syllable count
- similar length
Abigaíl
Borrowed from Hebrew אֲבִיגַיִל (avigáyil, “Abigail”, literally “her Father's joy, or, fountain of joy”).
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends L
- same syllable count
- similar length
Amabel
Medieval English name apparently based on Latin amabilis (“lovable”).
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends L
- same syllable count
- similar length
Anatol
Learned borrowing from Latin Anatolius, from Ancient Greek ἀνατολή (anatolḗ).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends L
- same syllable count
- similar length
Aníbal
Borrowed from Latin Hannibal, Annibal, from Punic 𐤇𐤍𐤁𐤏𐤋 (ḥnbʿl). Borrowed from Latin Hannibal.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends L
- same syllable count
- similar length
Middle Names for Percival
Ailean
a male given name from the Celtic languages, equivalent to English Alan
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Alan
From Old Breton Alan, name of early Breton saints, of disputed origin and meaning; brought to England by Normans. It may have been the name of a Celtic deity, the brother of…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Allan
A male given name from the Celtic languages, a less common spelling of Alan. From English Allan at the end of the 19th century. Borrowed from English Allan, Alan, probably of…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Sibling Names for Percival
Ailean
a male given name from the Celtic languages, equivalent to English Alan
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Alanis
A feminine form of Alan best known for the Canadian singer Alanis Morissette whose father was named Alan.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends S
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Alanna
A feminine form of Alan; variant spelling of Alana. Compare also Alannah.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length