UK boy's name
Gustave
Of French origin, meaning "staff of the gods" or "revered god".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2019. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Gustave is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Gustave popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2019 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4702, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2010, with 5 births.
This profile covers 32 England and Wales registrations across 8 recorded years from 2008 to 2019. 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 60% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 32 living people in the UK are called Gustave. 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 2020 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Gustave ranked #4702 for boys in England and Wales in 2019, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2010, when 5 boys were registered as Gustave.
- • About 32 living people in the UK are estimated to have Gustave as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4702
2019
Births in 2019
3
Latest year
Peak year
2010
5 births
Estimated living
32
2026
Meaning
What does Gustave mean?
The name Gustave originated from the Old Norse name Guðlaugr, which is derived from the words "guð" meaning "god" and "laugr" meaning "bright" or "shining." This name was later adapted into the Old French form "Gustave" during the Middle Ages.
The first recorded use of the name Gustave can be traced back to the 10th century in Scandinavian regions. It gained popularity in France during the 12th and 13th centuries, becoming a common name among the French nobility.
One of the earliest notable figures with the name Gustave was Gustave I Vasa, who was the King of Sweden from 1523 to 1560. He played a crucial role in establishing the Swedish nation-state and is considered one of the most influential monarchs in Swedish history.
In the 17th century, the name Gustave was associated with the French philosopher and mathematician René Descartes (1596-1650), whose full name was René Descartes du Perron. His philosophical works, including "Discourse on the Method" and "Meditations on First Philosophy," significantly influenced Western philosophy.
Another prominent figure with the name Gustave was the Swedish king Gustav III (1746-1792), who ruled from 1771 until his assassination in 1792. He was known for his efforts to promote the arts and culture in Sweden, as well as his involvement in the Russo-Swedish War.
In the 19th century, the name Gustave was closely associated with the French novelist and playwright Gustave Flaubert (1821-1880). His masterpiece, "Madame Bovary," is considered one of the greatest novels ever written and a seminal work of literary realism.
The name Gustave was also borne by the German composer Gustav Mahler (1860-1911), renowned for his highly emotional and complex symphonies. His works, such as the "Symphony No. 2" and "Symphony No. 5," continue to be widely performed and admired.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Gustave over time
The chart below shows babies named Gustave registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2008 to 2019. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Gustave, the clearest high point is 2010. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2019, compared with 5 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Gustave by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Gustave 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #3932 | 29 | 7 |
| 2000s | #4432 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Gustave
- 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
Gustave: questions and answers
How popular is the name Gustave in the UK right now?
In 2019, Gustave was ranked #4702 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Gustave most popular?
The peak year on record was 2010, with 5 babies registered as Gustave in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Gustave?
Of French origin, meaning "staff of the gods" or "revered god".
How many people are called Gustave in the UK?
A total of 32 babies have been registered as Gustave across the 8 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.