Namebino · Girl names · Boy names

Percival

Boy's name · #1536 in the US (2025) · Vintage

Popularity over time

Percival is an heirloom: its strongest era came around 1886, when it ranked #744. It has thinned since but never left the records — about 1,500 boys since 1880, ranked #1536 today.

Across the states

See where Percival is more common.

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 3 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Around the world

See how Percival ranks in other countries and regions.

#735 in England & Wales (2025) · #1,500 in Canada (2025) · #7,909 in Ecuador (2013) · #130 in New Zealand (1925).

Famous Percivals

• Percival Lowell — American businessman, author, mathematician, and astronomer (1855–1916)
• Percival Everett — American writer (born 1956)
• Percival C. Pearce — American film director (1899–1955)
• Percival Proctor Baxter — American politician (1876–1969)
• Percival Molson — Canadian ice hockey player (1880–1917)

As a surname

It is also an American family name — about 3,300 people carried it as a surname in the 2010 census.

• Arthur Percival — British army officer in the First and Second World Wars (1887–1966)
• Ria Percival — New Zealand footballer (born 1989)
• Lance Percival — British actor and comedian (1933–2015)

In stories & tradition

• Percival — One of King Arthur's legendary Knights
• Percival Dumbledore — Harry Potter (novel series)
• Percival McLeach^es — Antagonist in Disney's The Rescuers Down Under

What Percivals become

Among 169 notable people named Percival:

Military figures appear 3.55× more often than among typical names — e.g. Percival John Montague, Canadian Army general (1882–1966).

Spellings & nicknames

About 120 boys a year are given Percy as their full name.

Similar names: Percy · June · Perseus · Mercer · Loyal · Price

Browse more boy names — popularity, trends and eras for 5,700+ American names, free.

About · Privacy Policy · Terms of Service