Origin, Meaning, And History Of Percival
Percival is an English name that has its origins in Arthurian Romance and Welsh mythology. The name was coined by Chrétien de Troyes, a French poet of the 12th century, for his poem ‘Perceval, the Story of the Grail.’ He may have derived the name from the Old French ‘perce val,’ meaning ‘pierce the valley,’ or based it on the Welsh name Peredur, which possibly means ‘hard spears’ from Welsh’ peri’ for ‘spears’ and ‘dur’ for ‘hard’ or ‘steel.’
Percival, a Welsh boy, aspired to be a knight under King Arthur. He caught a glimpse of the Grail at Fisher King’s castle, making him the first hero of the Grail quest. Later, Galahad replaced him. The name Percival still exists as a given name, surname, and place name.
Percival is a two-syllable name pronounced as ‘p(e)-rci-val,’ ‘per-cival,’ or ‘PUR-si-val.’ Its variations include Perceval, Parzival, Parsafal, and Persifal. Additionally, Percy is a popular nickname if you want to name your child Percival.
The name Percival has been adopted by various notable figures throughout history. Harry ‘Whipper’ Watson in ice hockey and Rupert Julian in filmmaking both had Percival in their names. Cecil Taylor was a musician who adopted Percival as a middle name. Two Olympic medalists, Edward Percival Peter, and Percival Kinnear Wise, won bronze medals in swimming and polo, respectively. And P. J. Patterson, who served as the Prime Minister of Jamaica from 1992 to 2006, had Percival as his first name.
Percival has been used in various literary works and mythologies. For example, theHarry Potter seriesfeatures two characters named Percival, i.e., Albus Dumbledore’s father, and Percy, the older brother of Ron Weasley. Furthermore, Percival Graves appears in the filmFantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them. Finally, inCritical Role, Percival Fredrickstein Von Musel Klossowski de Rolo III is a member of the Vox Machina team.
Percival
How To Pronounce Percival?
Percival On The Popularity Chart
Using data from the Social Security Administration as a source, the graphs demonstrate the changes in the popularity of the name Percival over time.
Popularity Over Time
At its highest point of popularity in 2020 and 2021, only 46 babies per million were given the name Percival, indicating that it is not a widely used name yet.
Source:Social Security AdministrationRank Over Time
The name Percival has experienced variations in its ranking and has not yet reached the top 1000 names list.
Source:Social Security AdministrationNames With Similar Sounds To Percival
Take a look at this list of names that have a similar sound to Percival if you’re on the hunt for some similar name ideas.
Popular Sibling Names For Percival
Other Popular Names Beginning With P
Names With Similar Meanings As Percival
Check out the following list to find names that share similar or related meanings with Percival.
Infographic: Know The Name’s Personality As Per Numerology
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How To Communicate The Name In Other Languages
In Nautical Flags
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In Sign Language
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In Braille Alphabet
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In Morse Code
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Name Numerology For Percival
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the meaning of the name Percival?
The name Percival means name of a knight, and from the valley.
2. What is the origin of the name Percival?
Percival has a French and United States origin.
3. How to pronounce the name Percival?
Percival is pronounced as puhr-sih-vohl.
4. Is Percival a rare name?
Percival is considered a rare name in modern times. It has origins in Old French and is derived from the name Perceval, which was popularized by Arthurian legends and the character of Sir Percival. In the USA, the name was featured among the Top 1000 names for the last time in 1902 (1).
5. Who is Percival in Greek mythology?
The name Percival and its associated stories are more closely related to Arthurian legends and medieval literature, particularly in the context of the Knights of the Round Table. Percival, also known as Sir Percival or Perceval, is a knight known for his quest for the Holy Grail.
6. Is Percival the name of a boy or a girl?
珀西瓦尔历来是一个男性化的名字and is predominantly used for boys. It has masculine associations and is historically connected to male characters in Arthurian legends and medieval literature.
References:
- Popularity of name Percival.
https://www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames/
