Name Percival
Percival is a masculine name with Old French origins. It is considered a ubiquitous name that has experienced moderate growth in popularity recently.
Meaning of the name Percival
Origins and Core Meaning
Percival, a name steeped in chivalry and legend, embodies the epitome of a knightly virtue. Its Old French origin, "Perceval", translates to "pierce the veil", hinting at an ability to see beyond the surface and penetrate the hidden truths. In Arthurian legend, Sir Percival, one of the Knights of the Round Table, is renowned for his purity, humility, and unwavering quest for the Holy Grail.
Detailed Insights on Percival
Origins
French (Old French): Perceval, meaning "pierce the veil" - Welsh (Peredur): Possibly derived from the Celtic god of the underworld, Peredur.
Symbolic Representation
Percival's symbolism is deeply rooted in its Arthurian origins. The Holy Grail, which he sought with unwavering devotion, represents the highest ideals of purity, spirituality, and the pursuit of enlightenment. His connection to the Grail symbolizes a profound connection to the divine and a relentless quest for meaning and purpose in life.
Personality Traits
The name Percival evokes a sense of nobility, grace, and quiet determination. Its inherent strength and dignity inspire a profound sense of respect and admiration. It conveys a calm and collected demeanor, suggesting an individual who approaches life with a steady poise and unwavering principles.
Key Personality Traits
Personal Meanings of the Name Percival
Percival Overview & Analysis
Gender statistics
Percival is predominantly a boy's name with a strong masculine identity. Among 731 people named Percival, 731 are male and 0 is female resulting in a 100% male distribution. This pronounced gender imbalance underscores the name Percival's strong masculine identity.
Data Explanation
This data is sourced from actual birth records, ensuring that the statistics provided are accurate reflections of real naming trends. The percentage has been rounded up for easier readability, but the underlying figures are grounded in factual data, not estimates. This ensures that the information is both reliable and user-friendly, giving a clear and truthful picture of the name Percival's gender association.
Popularity
Percival classified as an ubiquitous name and ranks 7,886 in the Namedary database. It has experienced moderate growth over the years, and experienced moderate growth recently. The chance of meeting someone named Percival is nearly 0.0002%, or about one in 400,000+ people.
Based on the latest data from 2020 (5), 2021 (5), 2023 (7), Percival's year-to-year percentage change in popularity is -80.00%
Country-Specific Prevalence
| Flag | Country | Rank | Popularity |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | 1,049 | 0.01% | |
| Australia | 4,149 | 0% | |
| United Kingdom | 5,069 | 0.001% | |
| Canada | 16,896 | 0% | |
| United States | 17,894 | 0% |
People named Percival are predominantly found in New Zealand (NZ), where it constitutes 0.01% of the total population.
Data Source
The data in this section was gathered from a variety of sources, including:
- United States: Social Security Administration (https://www.ssa.gov/)
- Canada: Government of Ontario (https://data.ontario.ca/). Alberta’s top baby names (https://www.alberta.ca/). B.C.'s Most Popular Baby Names (https://www2.gov.bc.ca/)
- United Kingdom: Office for National Statistics (https://www.ons.gov.uk/)
- Australia: Government of South Australia (https://data.sa.gov.au/). Government of New South Wales (https://www.nsw.gov.au/). Northern Territory Government (https://nt.gov.au/)
- New Zealand: New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs (https://www.data.govt.nz/)
- Supplemental Sources: To enrich our data-driven approach, we supplement our primary sources with information from credible websites, academic publications, and expert opinions. This ensures that we provide a well-rounded perspective on baby names.
To enhance readability, percentages are rounded up. Values less than 0.0015% have been omitted.
Additional Information on Percival
Pronunciation and Phonetics
- Name
- Percival
- Pronunciation
- per-ci-val
- Per-ci-val
- p-ER-s-ih-v-uh-l
- pur-suh-vuhl
- IPA Notation
- pɚˈsɪvʌl
- Syllable
- Stressed:Per-ci-val
- Syllable Count:3 Syllables
Chinese Translation of the Name Percival
Translation of Percival Boy Name
- Translation
- 比尔西瓦乐
- Pronunce
- (PinYin) : bǐ ěr xī wǎ lè
- Feng Shui
- 比Water尔Fire西Metal瓦Earth乐Fire
Translation of Percival Girl Name
- Translation
- 皮尔西瓦乐
- Pronunce
- (PinYin) : pí ěr xī wǎ lè
- Feng Shui
- 皮Water尔Fire西Metal瓦Earth乐Fire
Percival in Numerology
| P | E | R | C | I | V | A | L |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 9 | 1 | |||||
| 7 | 9 | 3 | 4 | 3 |
Applying the rules of numerology (Pythagorean numerology):
Percival's Soul Number (Heart's Desire Number): Number 6
- You embrace your true self while nurturing others, caring for, and being close to those you love.
- You aspire to bring love, beauty, and harmony into the world so that everyone can feel happy, loved, and healed.
- You are driven by beauty, love, family, relationships, and serving and caring for others.
Percival's Expression Number (Personality Number): Number 8
- You possess a strong desire to forge your own path, valuing independence and embracing individuality.
- In certain situations, you may exhibit strong personalities; daring to venture, to stand out, to shine is your essence.
Percival's Destiny Number (Life Path Number): Number 5
- You are carefree, adventurous, progressive, enthusiastic, and adventurous. You embrace change and new experiences.
- You are an exceptional communicator and can leverage your skills to forge new friendships through shared experiences.
- You enjoy traveling, exploring new places, and immersing yourself in diverse cultures.
Famous People Named Percival
- Percival Lowell: American astronomer known for his contributions to the search for a ninth planet, leading to the discovery of Pluto.
- Percival Everett: American novelist, poet, and essayist known for his experimental and thought-provoking works.
- Percival Spear: British historian and author specializing in medieval history, particularly the Arthurian period.
User-Submitted Information about Percival
Natedogg373
American painter and illustrator Norman Rockwell’s middle name was Perceval (spelled with a second e rather than an i, but I felt it should be mentioned here anyway). Norman Perceval Rockwell, 10/10 name right there.
Fallout_98
Percival Dumbledore is Albus Dumbledore's father. I think that this is why one of his 3 middle names is Percival.
Megamagic62
Percival C. McLeach is the main antagonist of the 1990 Disney film "The Rescuers Down Under".
Conclusion
The name Percival is a testament to the timeless values of chivalry, honor, and the pursuit of knowledge. It encapsulates the essence of a true seeker, one who is destined to uncover the hidden treasures of life and embrace the transformative power of the human spirit.
Nomaan70
I thought the name was from the Arabic parsi fal -wise fool -Wagner used Parsifal in his opera about the Holy Grail where the prophecy was that only a wise fool could redeem Montsalvat from its corruption.
Lordakim
In Wolfram von Eschenbach's Percival epic, the Arthurian hero got the name Percival because he was born very shortly after the news of his father's death reached his mother, who felt like the pain caused by sorrow was piercing right through her. Thus the name Percival, "to pierce the valley".
Cheezereaper
I find this name to be very intriguing! It sounds so strong, fierce, and powerful. It is very unique and I love that it's extremely rare as well, because it just adds to the mysteriousness of it!