Percival
Percival is a Christian boy name of French, from Old French literature origin, meaning “Knight of the Grail”.
| Meaning | Knight of the Grail |
|---|---|
| Gender | Boy |
| Origin | French, from Old French literature |
| Pronunciation | PUR-si-vul |
| Tradition | Christian, Modern & Classic |
| Used in | United Kingdom, United States |
Meaning and origin of Percival
Percival comes from Perceval, the hero of Chrétien de Troyes's twelfth-century romance about the Holy Grail. Chrétien may have adapted the Welsh hero Peredur, though the exact origin is unclear. The popular explanation 'pierce the valley' comes from medieval wordplay rather than real etymology. Percival was one of King Arthur's Knights of the Round Table, and the story was later retold in Wagner's opera Parsifal.
Is Percival a Christian name?
Percival has a Christian literary background: in Arthurian legend he is one of the knights who achieves the Holy Grail, the cup of the Last Supper.
How popular is Percival?
Rare today, mostly chosen as a vintage literary name.
Gifts with the name Percival
- Percival name necklaces & bracelets (Amazon)
- Personalised Percival baby gifts (Amazon)
- Christian baby gifts & books (Amazon)
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Spellings and variants of Percival
Names similar to Percival
More Christian boy names
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Percival mean?
Percival means 'Knight of the Grail'. It is of French, from Old French literature origin.
Is Percival a Christian name?
Percival has a Christian literary background: in Arthurian legend he is one of the knights who achieves the Holy Grail, the cup of the Last Supper.
How do you pronounce Percival?
Percival is pronounced PUR-si-vul.
Is Percival a boy or girl name?
Percival is usually a boy name.