Percival
Boy name · #1529 in 2025 · Rare
How old is the name Percival? In official American birth records, Percival has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
Percival is currently the #1529 boy name in the United States — 113 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #5507, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 15,929 boys born in 2025 was named Percival.
Babies named Percival per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 145-year story
Percival first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 7 boys received the name. Its all-time peak is essentially right now: 2025, with 113 babies and a rank of #1529. Names at their peak can keep climbing — or be one trend cycle from the long slide that eventually hits most popular names. 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 Percival against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Percival in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Percival is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Percival will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Percival is most common
State-level data for Percival 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 Percival
Statistically, parents drawn to Percival tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Santiel, Jassiel, Jahziel, Calloway, and Perseus.
SantielJassielJahzielCallowayPerseusAzarielCallawayNayel
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Percival | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 113 | #1529 |
| 2024 | 93 | #1767 |
| 2023 | 63 | #2244 |
| 2022 | 51 | #2616 |
| 2021 | 46 | #2732 |
| 2020 | 46 | #2689 |
| 2019 | 38 | #3103 |
| 2018 | 19 | #4918 |
| 2017 | 19 | #4935 |
| 2016 | 12 | #6726 |
| 2015 | 16 | #5507 |
| 2014 | 16 | #5485 |
| 2013 | 8 | #8789 |
| 2012 | 9 | #8158 |
| 2011 | 13 | #6256 |
| 2010 | 6 | #10766 |
| 2009 | 5 | #12491 |
| 2007 | 8 | #8915 |
| 2006 | 6 | #10662 |
| 2004 | 5 | #11356 |
| 2001 | 6 | #9243 |
| 2000 | 6 | #9112 |
| 1999 | 7 | #7874 |
| 1998 | 5 | #9631 |
| 1997 | 6 | #8110 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Percival?
In official American birth records, the name Percival first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 7 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Percival a popular boy name?
Percival ranked #1529 among boys in 2025 with 113 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #5507.
When was the name Percival most popular?
Percival peaked in 2025, when 113 American boys received the name (ranked #1529 that year). That peak is current — the name is at or near its all-time high right now.
How rare is the name Percival?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 15,929 newborn American boys was named Percival. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.