Fun Facts About the Name Galahad
- 5 babies named Galahad: U.S. records list 5 babies given the name Galahad from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Galahad Mean?
Galahad is an English form of the Old French Galaad, and its literal meaning is not established. One common explanation derives it from the Welsh name Gwalchaved, sometimes interpreted as "summer hawk" from gwalch "hawk" and haf "summer." A second suggestion connects Galaad with the biblical place-name Gilead (Hebrew Gilʿad), a name of uncertain meaning. The resemblance to Gilead may be a learned or symbolic association rather than proof of descent, so the etymology remains disputed.
Galahad Name History & Origins
The name is chiefly associated with the Arthurian knight Galahad, the son of Lancelot and Elaine, who achieves the Holy Grail. In the Old French prose romances of the 13th century, especially the Lancelot-Grail cycle, he is called Galaad; the story was later retold in English by Thomas Malory in Le Morte d'Arthur, printed by William Caxton in 1485, where the form is Galahad. That literary and religious association belongs to the character's story, not to the name's etymology.
In French translations of the Bible, the place-name Gilead is rendered Galaad, which may have encouraged a connection between the two names. If Galahad derives from Welsh Gwalchaved, it would go back to an older Brittonic name; if it derives from Gilead, it would be a separate learned borrowing. The evidence does not settle the question.
How Popular is the Name Galahad?
Galahad has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2024. Its best rank was #12,877 in 2024.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | #12,877 | 5 | 0.0003% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Most Popular Boy Names That Start with G
How the Name Galahad Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are introspective, prophetic, philosophical, and soul searching, but also can be analytical, critical and opinionated. You think deeply and clearly, have an air of mystery, can be solitary and secretive. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.
You are very intuitive. You have a reservoir of inspired wisdom combined with inherited analytical ability, which could reward you through expressions of spiritual leadership, business analysis, marketing, artistic visions, and scientific research. Operating on spiritual side of your individuality can bring you to the great heights, and drop you off if you neglect your spiritual identity. You are always looking for an opportunity to investigate the unknown, to use and show your mental abilities, to find the purpose and meaning of life. You want to grow wise and to understand people and things. You need privacy to replenish your energy. You have a unique way of thinking, intuitive, reflective, absorbing.
✦ Galahad's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Galahad's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.