Gustavus
Literal root meaning: “Geat/Goth + staff”
About the name Gustavus
Gustavus is a boy name with Old Norse roots, literally “Geat/Goth + staff”. It is related to Gustav, which is where the meaning comes from.
It has a unique feel. Fewer than 5 US babies of either sex received it in 2025, so it's very rare right now. Its peak year since 1940 was 1966. Since 2000, 100% of US babies named Gustavus were boys.
Etymology
A form of Gustav, which comes from Old Norse, meaning “Geat/Goth” + “staff”.
Name meaning adapted from Wiktionary (“Gustavus”, “Gustav”) by Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- US rank 2025
- Not ranked
- In 2015
- Not ranked
- Babies in 2025
- Under 5
Popularity of Gustavus, 1940–2025
Latest SSA data: 2025.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration national baby names (public domain; names given to at least 5 babies of one sex per year).
Names similar to Gustavus
Name meanings marked or linked “Wiktionary” are adapted from Wiktionary by Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; each name page links its source entry.