UK boy's name
Gustaf
A masculine Scandinavian name derived from Old Norse meaning "staff of the Goths".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2007. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Gustaf is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Gustaf popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2007 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4333, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2003, with 3 births.
This profile covers 6 England and Wales registrations across 2 recorded years from 2003 to 2007. 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 Gustaf. 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 2008 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Gustaf ranked #4333 for boys in England and Wales in 2007, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2003, when 3 boys were registered as Gustaf.
- • About 6 living people in the UK are estimated to have Gustaf as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4333
2007
Births in 2007
3
Latest year
Peak year
2003
3 births
Estimated living
6
2026
Meaning
What does Gustaf mean?
Gustaf is a name of Swedish origin, derived from the Old Norse name Guðlafr, which is a compound of the elements "guð" meaning "god" and "lafr" meaning "descendant" or "heir." It can be translated as "god's heir" or "descendant of the gods."
The name has its roots in the Viking era and was popular among the Scandinavian peoples, particularly in Sweden and parts of Finland. It is closely related to the names Gustav and Gösta, which share the same linguistic ancestry.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Gustaf can be found in the Scandinavian sagas and historical records from the medieval period. For example, the 13th-century Icelandic Saga of the Sturlung Clan mentions a character named Guðlafr Arason.
In the 16th century, the name gained prominence with the reign of King Gustav Vasa (1496-1560), the founder of the modern Swedish monarchy and the House of Vasa. He adopted the Swedish form of the name, Gustaf, which became popular among the Swedish nobility and common people alike.
Notable historical figures with the name Gustaf include Gustaf III (1746-1792), the King of Sweden who was assassinated at a masquerade ball in 1792. Another prominent figure was Gustaf IV Adolf (1778-1837), the King of Sweden who led the country during the Napoleonic Wars.
In the field of science, Gustaf de Laval (1845-1913) was a Swedish engineer and inventor best known for developing the first functional centrifugal milk separator and the de Laval nozzle for steam turbines.
In the arts, Gustaf Cederström (1845-1933) was a Swedish painter and printmaker known for his landscapes and portraits, while Gustaf Froding (1860-1911) was a renowned Swedish poet and writer of the late 19th century.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who bore the name Gustaf, which has a rich cultural heritage and a long-standing tradition in Scandinavia.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Gustaf over time
The chart below shows babies named Gustaf registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2003 to 2007. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Gustaf, the clearest high point is 2003. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2007, compared with 3 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Gustaf by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Gustaf 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 | #3900 | 6 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Gustaf
- 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
Gustaf: questions and answers
How popular is the name Gustaf in the UK right now?
In 2007, Gustaf was ranked #4333 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Gustaf most popular?
The peak year on record was 2003, with 3 babies registered as Gustaf in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Gustaf?
A masculine Scandinavian name derived from Old Norse meaning "staff of the Goths".
How many people are called Gustaf in the UK?
A total of 6 babies have been registered as Gustaf 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.