UK boy's name
Gawain
A masculine given name of Old Welsh origin meaning "the hawk of battle".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2000. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Gawain is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Gawain popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2000 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3036, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1997, with 3 births.
This profile covers 6 England and Wales registrations across 2 recorded years from 1997 to 2000. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 6 living people in the UK are called Gawain. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2001 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Gawain ranked #3036 for boys in England and Wales in 2000, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1997, when 3 boys were registered as Gawain.
- • About 6 living people in the UK are estimated to have Gawain as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3036
2000
Births in 2000
3
Latest year
Peak year
1997
3 births
Estimated living
6
2026
Meaning
What does Gawain mean?
The name Gawain has its origins in the medieval romance tradition of Britain and France, particularly in the Arthurian legends. It is believed to be derived from the Welsh word "gwalchmei" or "gwalchmai," which means "hawk of battle" or "hawk of May."
The earliest known appearance of the name Gawain is in the 12th-century French romance "Perceval, the Story of the Grail" by Chrétien de Troyes. In this work, Gawain is portrayed as one of the principal knights of King Arthur's Round Table, renowned for his courtesy, chivalry, and bravery.
The name gained further prominence in the 14th-century Middle English poem "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight," which tells the story of Gawain's encounter with a mysterious green-hued knight and his quest to uphold the ideals of knighthood. This work is considered a masterpiece of medieval English literature and has had a significant influence on subsequent literary works and popular culture.
One of the most famous historical figures bearing the name Gawain was Sir Gawain, a nephew of King Arthur in the Arthurian legends. Although he is a fictional character, his exploits and adventures have been widely depicted in various literary works, including the aforementioned texts, as well as in visual arts and other media.
Another notable figure with the name Gawain was Gawain Douglas (c. 1474-1522), a Scottish poet and translator who is best known for his poetic translation of Virgil's "Aeneid" into Middle Scots. His work played a significant role in the development of Scottish literature and the promotion of the Scots language.
In the 19th century, the name Gawain was used by the English writer and philosopher Thomas Love Peacock (1785-1866) for one of the characters in his novel "The Misfortunes of Elphin." This work drew inspiration from Welsh mythology and helped revive interest in the Arthurian legends during the Romantic period.
The name Gawain has also been used in various works of fiction, such as the novel "The Once and Future King" by T.H. White (1958), which reimagines the Arthurian legends, and the fantasy novel series "The Chronicles of Prydain" by Lloyd Alexander (1964-1968), which draws inspiration from Welsh mythology.
While the name Gawain is not as common today as it once was, it continues to hold a significant place in literary and cultural traditions, particularly those associated with the Arthurian legends and medieval romance.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Gawain over time
The chart below shows babies named Gawain registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1997 to 2000. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Gawain, the clearest high point is 1997. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2000, compared with 3 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Gawain by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Gawain was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | #3036 | 3 | 1 |
| 1990s | #2859 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Gawain
- George 121,258
- Gabriel 20,581
- Grayson 7,636
- Gregory 2,925
- Guy 2,646
- Gareth 2,092
- Gethin 1,880
- Georgie 1,872
- Gary 1,575
- Gavin 1,422
- Giovanni 1,252
- Grant 1,199
FAQ
Gawain: questions and answers
How popular is the name Gawain in the UK right now?
In 2000, Gawain was ranked #3036 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Gawain most popular?
The peak year on record was 1997, with 3 babies registered as Gawain in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Gawain?
A masculine given name of Old Welsh origin meaning "the hawk of battle".
How many people are called Gawain in the UK?
A total of 6 babies have been registered as Gawain across the 2 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.