Gustaf is a Swedish masculine given name that is derived from the Germanic elements "guth" meaning "god" or "spirit," and "fridu" meaning "peace." The name Gustaf means "peace of God."
The name Gustaf has a long history in Sweden, with its usage dating back to the Middle Ages. It was particularly popular among Swedish royalty, with several kings bearing the name Gustaf throughout history. One of the most famousGustafs was King Gustaf II Adolf (1594-1632), who led Sweden during the Thirty Years' War and is considered one of Sweden's greatest heroes.
The name Gustaf has also been used by notable figures in Swedish history and culture, such as Gustaf Vasa, a 16th-century nobleman who led a rebellion against Danish rule and became king of Sweden, and Gustaf Fröding, a prominent Swedish poet from the late 19th century.
Today, Gustaf remains a popular name in Sweden, with its usage ranking consistently among the top boys' names in recent years. Despite its Swedish origin and popularity, Gustaf has also gained recognition internationally, appearing on name lists in countries such as Norway, Denmark, and even beyond Scandinavia.
Here are some interesting statistics about the name Gustaf:
Over a span of over a century from 1880 to 2023, there have been a total of 747 babies named Gustaf born in the United States. The name's popularity has fluctuated significantly over time.
Gustaf saw its peak popularity during the early 20th century. In 1915, there were as many as 24 births with this name, which was the highest number recorded in a single year. This trend continued into the following years, with 18 births in 1916 and 25 births in 1917.
However, after World War I, the popularity of the name Gustaf began to decline sharply. Between 1918 and 1934, there were fewer than 10 births each year on average, with some years even seeing fewer than 5 babies named Gustaf.
The name's popularity remained low throughout much of the mid-20th century until the late 1980s when it started to see a slight resurgence. From 1986 onwards, there were at least 7 births each year with the name Gustaf.
In recent years, the popularity of Gustaf has seen another increase. Between 2007 and 2023, there have been over 50 babies named Gustaf born in the United States each year on average, with a peak of 10 births recorded in 2017.
Overall, while Gustaf may not be one of the most popular names in the U.S., its popularity has shown significant fluctuations throughout history.