Gustav
Boy name · #3658 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Gustav? In official American birth records, Gustav has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 30 baby boys were named Gustav, placing it at #3658 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #4295, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 60,000 boys born in 2025 was named Gustav.
Babies named Gustav per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 145-year story
Gustav first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 33 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1917, when 99 boys were named Gustav — good for #597 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Gustav against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Gustav in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Gustav is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Gustav will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Gustav is most common
State-level data for Gustav is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Gustav
Statistically, parents drawn to Gustav tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Gaston, Mahlon, Tillman, Wilber, and Christ.
GastonMahlonTillmanWilberChristGaetanoSilvioCyril
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Gustav | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 30 | #3658 |
| 2024 | 35 | #3335 |
| 2023 | 33 | #3474 |
| 2022 | 30 | #3691 |
| 2021 | 34 | #3362 |
| 2020 | 37 | #3074 |
| 2019 | 45 | #2766 |
| 2018 | 33 | #3373 |
| 2017 | 33 | #3378 |
| 2016 | 28 | #3776 |
| 2015 | 23 | #4295 |
| 2014 | 19 | #4866 |
| 2013 | 21 | #4463 |
| 2012 | 27 | #3807 |
| 2011 | 29 | #3605 |
| 2010 | 27 | #3812 |
| 2009 | 43 | #2800 |
| 2008 | 38 | #3057 |
| 2007 | 24 | #4127 |
| 2006 | 33 | #3227 |
| 2005 | 26 | #3615 |
| 2004 | 26 | #3534 |
| 2003 | 24 | #3626 |
| 2002 | 29 | #3095 |
| 2001 | 35 | #2681 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Gustav?
In official American birth records, the name Gustav first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 33 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Gustav a popular boy name?
Gustav ranked #3658 among boys in 2025 with 30 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #4295.
When was the name Gustav most popular?
Gustav peaked in 1917, when 99 American boys received the name (ranked #597 that year). Since 1917 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Gustav?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 60,000 newborn American boys was named Gustav. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.