Percival is a baby name with Old French roots and a meaning often connected to “pierced vale.” For parents comparing baby names, it offers a simple way to balance meaning, sound, and overall feel.
What Does Percival Mean?
From the French meaning pierced vale
The name Percival is of Old French origin, derived from the name “Perceval” which itself comes from the medieval Latin name “Percivalus.” The meaning of the name is debated, but it is often linked to the Welsh name “Peredur,” which is composed of the elements “per” meaning “through” or “very,” and “dur” meaning “hard” or “steel.”
In Arthurian legend, Sir Percival is one of the Knights of the Round Table known for his quest for the Holy Grail. He is depicted as virtuous, courageous, and a pure-hearted hero in various medieval romances and folk tales.
Origin And Style Of Percival
Percival is commonly connected to Old French naming traditions.
The meaning linked with Percival is usually given as “pierced vale.”
When choosing a name like Percival, many parents also compare how it looks on the page, how easy it is to say, and how well it fits with sibling names or family preferences.
Why Parents Consider Percival
Percival can be evaluated by the same practical questions parents use with any baby name: sound, meaning, familiarity, and overall style.
Families who like Percival may also be looking for names that start with P, have a similar tone, or carry a meaning that feels thoughtful and positive.
Names Similar To Percival
If you like Percival, you may also want to explore Perceval, Phillippe, Pierre, Percivalle, Pascal.
Top 100 Names Like Percival
Keep the loop going with Top 100 names like Percival and Boy Names and French baby names.
Names Starting With P
Browse more P names such as Perceval, Phillippe, Pierre, Percivalle or open the P baby names archive.
Explore More P Names
Looking for similar ideas? Browse more P baby names or return to the full baby names directory to compare more options.
From the French meaning pierced vale
The name Percival is of Old French origin, derived from the name “Perceval” which itself comes from the medieval Latin name “Percivalus.” The meaning of the name is debated, but it is often linked to the Welsh name “Peredur,” which is composed of the elements “per” meaning “through” or “very,” and “dur” meaning “hard” or “steel.”
In Arthurian legend, Sir Percival is one of the Knights of the Round Table known for his quest for the Holy Grail. He is depicted as virtuous, courageous, and a pure-hearted hero in various medieval romances and folk tales.
The name Percival has a strong and noble sound, evoking images of chivalry and adventure. It is a name that carries a sense of mystery and valiant bravery, making it a unique and intriguing choice for a baby boy.
Profile Confidence
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Popularity
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Meaning
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Origin
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How to use this profile
Look at Percival from more than one angle.
Data signal
Use the Social Security record summary to see whether Percival has a long usage trail, a newer rise, or a rare-name pattern.
Fit signal
Compare the P initial, sound, spelling, and rhythm with surname, sibling names, and family naming patterns.
Reader signal
Save Percival, react to it, or read approved notes so the page becomes more than a static boy-name listing.
Sources and limits: public U.S. Social Security baby-name records are used where available. Meaning, origin, style, shortlist, and community notes are treated as decision aids, not as a claim that one name is objectively best.
Shortlist notes
Why parents might save Percival
- Percival is easy to compare with other boy names while you build a shortlist.
- The name starts with P, which can help when matching sibling names, initials, or family naming patterns.
- Use the save button to keep this name available while browsing origins, topic lists, and generator ideas.
Community
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