Gavin Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Gavin is predominantly used for boys. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Gavin?
Gavin is spelled G-A-V-I-N. The name has 5 letters.
Gavin at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for boys
- Meaning
- Gavin is commonly believed to mean “white hawk” or “little hawk.”
- Origin
- Gavin is commonly associated with medieval Scotland and is considered to be a form of the name Gawain, which is found in Arthurian legend.
- Pronunciation
- GAV-in · 2 syllables
Gavin Popularity in 2025
Rank#303
Recorded Births1,125
- Boys usage fell 48 places to #303 and recorded 259 fewer births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Gavin Mean?
Gavin is commonly believed to mean “white hawk” or “little hawk.”
Origin: Gavin is commonly associated with medieval Scotland and is considered to be a form of the name Gawain, which is found in Arthurian legend.
How Do You Pronounce Gavin?
PronunciationGAV-in
Syllables2
What Is the History of the Name Gavin?
- History
- The name Gavin appears in medieval Scottish records and is connected to the chivalric tales involving Sir Gawain. It has been used in English-speaking countries since that period.
Gavin Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2011 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Boys | 1,125 | #303 |
| 2024 | Boys | 1,384 | #255 |
| 2023 | Girls | 9 | #10,312 |
| 2023 | Boys | 1,515 | #232 |
| 2022 | Girls | 5 | #15,306 |
| 2022 | Boys | 1,798 | #206 |
| 2021 | Boys | 2,216 | #174 |
| 2020 | Boys | 2,589 | #142 |
| 2019 | Girls | 5 | #15,539 |
| 2019 | Boys | 3,013 | #128 |
| 2018 | Girls | 7 | #12,464 |
| 2018 | Boys | 3,475 | #111 |
| 2017 | Boys | 4,159 | #96 |
| 2016 | Girls | 5 | #16,215 |
| 2016 | Boys | 4,944 | #80 |
| 2015 | Girls | 5 | #16,419 |
| 2015 | Boys | 5,794 | #70 |
| 2014 | Girls | 10 | #10,129 |
| 2014 | Boys | 6,622 | #61 |
| 2013 | Girls | 16 | #7,372 |
| 2013 | Boys | 7,422 | #50 |
| 2012 | Girls | 15 | #7,804 |
| 2012 | Boys | 8,260 | #40 |
| 2011 | Girls | 17 | #7,118 |
When Was Gavin Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
2007 · Boys
11,863 recorded births
National rank #32
2008 · Boys
11,752 recorded births
National rank #30
2009 · Boys
10,742 recorded births
National rank #33
2006 · Boys
10,479 recorded births
National rank #38
Where Gavin Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Boys
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| VT | #80 | 6 |
| NH | #121 | 12 |
| RI | #155 | 7 |
| DE | #168 | 6 |
| ME | #172 | 7 |
| MA | #178 | 38 |
| CT | #179 | 19 |
| PA | #181 | 71 |