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Percival - name meaning, origin|
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The boy's name Percival \p(e)-rci-val, per-cival\ is of Old French origin, and its meaning is "pierce the vale". Invented by a medieval poet in the 12th century for one of King Arthur's knights. His virtue was so great that he alone could retrieve the elusive Holy Grail, the chalice from Christ's Last Supper. Wagner's opera Parsifal is based on this knight's tale.
Percival has 10 variant forms: Parsafal, Parsefal, Parsifal, Perce, Perceval, Percevall, Percey, Percivall, Percy and Purcell.
Percival is an uncommon first name for men but a very common last name for both men and women (#11325 out of 88799). (1990 U.S. Census)
Displayed below is the baby name popularity trend for the boy name Percival. Compare Percival with its variant forms and related boy names.|
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