Gareth
Meaning
gentle (Welsh, popularized by Arthurian legend); famously borne by Gareth Bale
The story
Gareth rides in from Arthurian legend: in Thomas Malory's telling, Sir Gareth was the young nobleman who hid his identity to labor in Camelot's kitchens before proving himself a knight, and the name is traditionally tied to a Welsh word for gentleness. For centuries it remained mostly Welsh, quietly beloved at home and little known beyond. Its most famous modern bearer kept faith with that homeland: Gareth Bale, the Welsh winger whose world-record move to Real Madrid brought five Champions League titles, including an overhead kick in the 2018 final that stands among the competition's most spectacular goals. In American records Gareth has kept a low, steady presence for roughly a century without ever becoming common, showing a modest lift in recent decades. Gentle by meaning and knightly by story, it wears both inheritances lightly.
Popularity, 1890–2024
Shape drawn from US Social Security baby-name records. Gareth peaked in the 2000s and the 2020s in nearly equal measure.
When you meet Gareth
Most people given the name Gareth in the United States were born between 1970 and 2019. The Gareth you meet today is most often in his 20s or 30s.
Estimated from US Social Security birth registrations and typical lifespans; a rough guide, not a rule.
The Gareth deep dive
Whether you’re naming a baby or exploring your own name’s history, this is a personal letter, not a list: where Gareth truly comes from, how it traveled, and what a century of records reveals. If you have grown a tree on nametree, it also considers how Gareth fits with your family’s names and surname.
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