Gustav
A common royal name in Sweden, from Lua error in Module:etymology/templates at line 71: Language 'en (English)' does not match the L2 header (Translingual)., from Lua…
Every Gustav since 1880 — 4,267 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Gustav
Gustav is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #3,686 in 2025 with 30 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1880, 4,267 American babies have been named Gustav. Its peak came in 1917, when 99 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1910s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Gustav stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Gustav year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 30 | #3,686 |
| 2024 | 35 | #3,351 |
| 2023 | 33 | #3,500 |
| 2022 | 30 | #3,719 |
| 2021 | 34 | #3,383 |
| 2020 | 37 | #3,093 |
| 2019 | 45 | #2,777 |
| 2018 | 33 | #3,402 |
| 2017 | 33 | #3,408 |
| 2016 | 28 | #3,812 |
| 2015 | 23 | #4,337 |
| 2014 | 19 | #4,939 |
| 2013 | 21 | #4,519 |
| 2012 | 27 | #3,831 |
| 2011 | 29 | #3,631 |
| 2010 | 27 | #3,849 |
| 2009 | 43 | #2,815 |
| 2008 | 38 | #3,070 |
| 2007 | 24 | #4,165 |
| 2006 | 33 | #3,252 |
| 2005 | 26 | #3,653 |
| 2004 | 26 | #3,564 |
| 2003 | 24 | #3,660 |
| 2002 | 29 | #3,133 |
| 2001 | 35 | #2,709 |
| 2000 | 18 | #4,275 |
| 1995 | 21 | #3,233 |
| 1990 | 17 | #3,505 |
| 1985 | 17 | #2,876 |
| 1980 | 20 | #2,475 |
| 1975 | 16 | #2,575 |
| 1970 | 17 | #2,238 |
| 1965 | 18 | #1,886 |
| 1960 | 18 | #1,936 |
| 1955 | 8 | #3,062 |
| 1950 | 24 | #1,512 |
| 1945 | 13 | #1,968 |
| 1940 | 30 | #1,238 |
| 1935 | 24 | #1,406 |
| 1930 | 51 | #950 |
| 1925 | 50 | #962 |
| 1920 | 60 | #890 |
| 1915 | 92 | #597 |
| 1910 | 22 | #629 |
| 1905 | 22 | #482 |
| 1900 | 19 | #565 |
| 1895 | 19 | #463 |
| 1890 | 21 | #396 |
| 1885 | 28 | #323 |
| 1880 | 33 | #286 |
Famous people named Gustav
- Gustav Mahler Composer · 1860–1911
- Gustav Klimt Painter · 1862–1918
- Gustav Kirchhoff Physicist · 1824–1887
- Gustav I of Sweden Social activist · 1496–1560
- Gustav III of Sweden Politician · 1746–1792
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Gustav mean?
A common royal name in Sweden, from Lua error in Module:etymology/templates at line 71: Language 'en (English)' does not match the L2 header (Translingual)., from Lua error in Module:etymology/templates at line 71: Language 'en…
How popular is the name Gustav in 2025?
Gustav ranked #3,686 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 30 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Gustav?
4,267 babies have been named Gustav in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Gustav most popular?
Gustav peaked in 1917, when 99 newborns received the name.
Is Gustav a boy or girl name?
Gustav is overwhelmingly a boy's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Gustav rising or falling?
Gustav is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Gustav?
Well-known people named Gustav include Gustav Mahler (composer), Gustav Klimt (painter), Gustav Kirchhoff (physicist).