Fun Facts About the Name Perceval
- 5 babies named Perceval: U.S. records list 5 babies given the name Perceval from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Perceval Mean?
Perceval is a masculine name whose established meaning is uncertain. It is an Old French form, and in English it is usually treated as a variant of Percival. A frequently repeated explanation derives it from Old French percer, "to pierce," and val, "valley," giving "pierce the valley"; this may be a later interpretation rather than a securely documented original sense. Another proposal connects the name with Welsh Peredur, the hero of a Welsh tale with parallels to the French Perceval romances, but the relationship between the two names is disputed. The literal etymology therefore remains uncertain.
Perceval Name History & Origins
Perceval is the Old French form of the name best known from Arthurian romance. Chrétien de Troyes made Perceval the hero of his late 12th-century Conte du Graal, and the story was adapted in Middle High German by Wolfram von Eschenbach as Parzival. In English, the usual modern spelling is Percival, while Perceval is retained as a variant closer to the French form; Sir Thomas Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur includes Percival among Arthur's knights. The Welsh tale Peredur fab Efrawg tells a related story, and scholars have debated whether the French name and the Welsh name are connected by descent or by shared literary tradition.
How Popular is the Name Perceval?
Perceval 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 2019. Its best rank was #13,622 in 2019.
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 | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | #13,622 | 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 P
How the Name Perceval Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You have a power of expression, either in speaking or writing. You are in favor for studying and research. You are clever, clear-sighted and intellectual. You don't like to let others know your true feelings. You might be atheistic or agnostic. You have an eventful, exciting life. You are versatile and have the ability to learn easily.
You are always looking for a chance to do your own thing, to be your own person, and to have things done your own way.
✦ Perceval's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Perceval's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.