Boy name
Gustav name meaning
“possibly staff or support of the Goths”
Gustav traditionally means “staff or support of the Goths.” Used in Swedish and other European languages, it is linked with Old Norse Gautstafr, combining a people’s name with stafr, meaning staff. Used for boys in Türkiye, it has a musical association through the composer Gustav Mahler.
- Gender
- ♂ Boy
- Origin
- European languages
- Syllables
- 2
- Popularity
- #2,713
What does Gustav mean?
Possibly staff or support of the Goths
In Turkish: muhtemelen Gotların asası veya desteği
Gustav is a historical masculine name borne by Swedish rulers, including Gustav Vasa and Gustav II Adolf. Gustaf and Gustave are closely related forms. The interpretation involving a staff or support belongs to a traditional etymological explanation and should not be presented as an undisputed translation.
Origin of the name Gustav
Gustav is used in Swedish and other European languages and is traditionally connected with Old Norse Gautstafr. This interpretation combines a people-name element Gaut- with stafr, staff, although the etymology is not certain.
| Linguistic origin | European languages |
|---|---|
| Is Gustav in the Quran? | No |
| Starts with | G |
How to pronounce Gustav
| Syllables | 2 · 6 letters · 6-letter boy names |
|---|---|
| IPA | /ɡustav/ |
Is Gustav a boy’s name?
Yes, Gustav is used mostly as a boy’s name. See all boy names.
Gustav does not appear in TÜİK’s top-30 lists (Türkiye and provinces, up to 2025). In our sample of notable people (Wikidata), 1 people bear it; this is not a national figure.
Spellings and similar names
Names that sound like Gustav
Famous people named Gustav
- Gustav İvlahov · b. 1912
FAQ about the name Gustav
What is the meaning of Gustav?
Gustav means “possibly staff or support of the Goths”. Gustav is used in Swedish and other European languages and is traditionally connected with Old Norse Gautstafr. This interpretation combines a people-name element Gaut- with stafr, staff, although the etymology is not certain.
Is Gustav a boy’s name?
Yes, Gustav is used mostly as a boy’s name.
Is Gustav in the Quran?
No. Neither the name Gustav nor its source word occurs in the Quran.
What is the origin of the name Gustav?
Gustav is of European languages origin.
How many syllables does Gustav have?
Gustav has 2 syllables and 6 letters.
How popular is the name Gustav?
Gustav does not appear in TÜİK’s top-30 lists (Türkiye and provinces, up to 2025). In our sample of notable people (Wikidata), 1 people bear it; this is not a national figure.
Famous people named Gustav?
Notable people named Gustav include Gustav İvlahov.
Sources and method
Meanings and origins draw on language sources and name dictionaries; popularity figures come from TÜİK’s address-based population register, and notable people from Wikidata.
Entry ID: nm11536 · Updated 2026-10-24 · How we research names · Report a mistake