Perceval
/P-EH-R-K-EH-V-AE-L/
From Arthurian romance, the French name of the knight Perceval, the innocent youth who seeks the Holy Grail. Medieval poets read it as one who pierces the valley, and the name carries the spirit of the noble quest, of valour, purity of heart, and the long search for the sacred.
See Perceval scored for your familyQuick — what every parent wants to know about Perceval:
Yes — Perceval is a Christian boy name of French origin, meaning “From Arthurian romance, the French name of the knight Perceval, the innocent youth who seeks the Holy Grail. Medieval poets read it as one who pierces the valley, and the name carries the spirit of the noble quest, of valour, purity of heart, and the long search for the sacred.”.
How well does Perceval fit your family?
This page tells you what Perceval means. The app tells you whether it's right for your baby — scored against the names already in your family, your heritage, and your baby's exact birth star.
Unlock Perceval's score — free
Six signals — scored for your family, not in the abstract:
Meaning & origin
Perceval is a boy's name of French origin, traditionally used in Christian families. The name means "From Arthurian romance, the French name of the knight Perceval, the innocent youth who seeks the Holy Grail. Medieval poets read it as one who pierces the valley, and the name carries the spirit of the noble quest, of valour, purity of heart, and the long search for the sacred." and belongs to the Courage cluster — names for children who will grow into bold, fearless hearts.
Common among French, European families, Perceval carries cultural weight that goes beyond its dictionary definition — it's a name with a story and a community.
What would a baby named Perceval look like?
NameRoot imagines a one-of-a-kind AI baby portrait for every name, shaped by its heritage — the features, the colouring, the feeling a name like Perceval carries. No two are alike.
See Perceval's portrait — and its full score — the moment you open the app.
See Perceval's baby portrait →What does Perceval's numerology say?
Numerology assigns each name a single-digit destiny number by summing its letter values. Different schools use different mappings — NameRoot computes both so you can see how Perceval resonates in either tradition.
Perceval's destiny number is 1 — but a number only matters in context. The app matches it to your family's own numbers for a real compatibility read. See Perceval's full reading →
Does Perceval go with your family's names?
Perceval breaks into 8 sounds: /P-EH-R-K-EH-V-AE-L/. The real test isn't how it sounds alone — it's how it sounds beside the names already in your family: yours, your partner's, and any brothers or sisters. NameRoot scores that harmony, so Perceval sits naturally next to a Mum and Dad like Michael & Anna, or a big sister named Gianna — no awkward clashes, no two names that blur together. Hear Perceval beside your family's names →
Nicknames
Common affectionate forms of Perceval — useful for everyday family conversation, early childhood, or as standalone given names themselves.
Names similar to Perceval
If Perceval resonates with you, these names live in the same world — drawn from the same tradition, sharing the same meaning, or echoing a similar sound.
From the same tradition
Other Christian boy names, common in French families
Sharing the same meaning
Other Christian boy names from the Courage cluster
Names that sound similar
Christian boy names that open with the same syllables as Perceval
Explore more names
Keep exploring names like Perceval — by tradition, by meaning, or by first letter.
Common questions about Perceval
What does the name Perceval mean?
Perceval means "From Arthurian romance, the French name of the knight Perceval, the innocent youth who seeks the Holy Grail. Medieval poets read it as one who pierces the valley, and the name carries the spirit of the noble quest, of valour, purity of heart, and the long search for the sacred.." It is a boy name of French origin, traditionally used in Christian families.
Is Perceval a boy or girl name?
Perceval is most commonly used as a boy name.
What is the origin of the name Perceval?
Perceval is of French origin, used in Christian tradition, commonly among French, European families.
Is Perceval a Christian name?
Yes. Perceval is a boy name traditionally used in Christian families, of French origin.
What does Perceval mean in French?
Perceval originates from French, where it means "From Arthurian romance, the French name of the knight Perceval, the innocent youth who seeks the Holy Grail. Medieval poets read it as one who pierces the valley, and the name carries the spirit of the noble quest, of valour, purity of heart, and the long search for the sacred.."
What are common nicknames for Perceval?
Common short forms of Perceval include Peri, Perc.
What is the numerology of Perceval?
Perceval has a Pythagorean destiny number of 1 — leadership and pioneering spirit.
See how Perceval scores for your family
NameRoot is the only baby-name app that scores every name across 6 signals against your specific family context. Download free — Perceval is waiting.
Get NameRoot — free