Percival
A male given name from the Celtic languages.
Every Percival since 1880 — 1,466 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Percival
Percival is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #1,536 in 2025 with 113 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1880, 1,466 American babies have been named Percival. Its peak came in 2025, when 113 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 2020s.
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 Percival stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Percival year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 113 | #1,536 |
| 2024 | 93 | #1,772 |
| 2023 | 63 | #2,267 |
| 2022 | 51 | #2,640 |
| 2021 | 46 | #2,765 |
| 2020 | 46 | #2,720 |
| 2019 | 38 | #3,136 |
| 2018 | 19 | #5,056 |
| 2017 | 19 | #5,063 |
| 2016 | 12 | #7,033 |
| 2015 | 16 | #5,676 |
| 2014 | 16 | #5,657 |
| 2013 | 8 | #9,440 |
| 2012 | 9 | #8,694 |
| 2011 | 13 | #6,491 |
| 2010 | 6 | #11,820 |
| 2009 | 5 | #13,963 |
| 2008 | — | — |
| 2007 | 8 | #9,528 |
| 2006 | 6 | #11,689 |
| 2005 | — | — |
| 2004 | 5 | #12,736 |
| 2003 | — | — |
| 2002 | — | — |
| 2001 | 6 | #10,210 |
| 2000 | 6 | #10,010 |
| 1995 | 5 | #9,920 |
| 1990 | 6 | #7,854 |
| 1985 | 6 | #6,315 |
| 1980 | 6 | #6,043 |
| 1975 | 8 | #4,204 |
| 1970 | 7 | #4,133 |
| 1965 | 14 | #2,240 |
| 1960 | 6 | #3,956 |
| 1955 | 8 | #3,146 |
| 1950 | 7 | #3,249 |
| 1945 | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — |
| 1935 | 6 | #3,561 |
| 1930 | 9 | #2,956 |
| 1925 | 10 | #2,890 |
| 1920 | 12 | #2,570 |
| 1915 | 11 | #2,414 |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1905 | 7 | #1,063 |
| 1900 | 7 | #1,141 |
| 1895 | — | — |
| 1890 | 5 | #1,118 |
| 1885 | 7 | #821 |
| 1880 | 7 | #790 |
Famous people named Percival
- Percival Lowell Astronomer · 1855–1916
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Percival mean?
A male given name from the Celtic languages.
How popular is the name Percival in 2025?
Percival ranked #1,536 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 113 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Percival?
1,466 babies have been named Percival in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Percival most popular?
Percival peaked in 2025, when 113 newborns received the name.
Is Percival a boy or girl name?
Percival is overwhelmingly a boy's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Percival rising or falling?
Percival is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Percival?
Well-known people named Percival include Percival Lowell (astronomer).