Gavin is a distinctive boys' name in England & Wales, ranking #1329 in 2021 with 19 recorded births. This places Gavin in the top 21% of ranked UK boys' names for the year. Its actual usage is classified as Rare. The name reached its all-time peak in 1996 with 176 births ranking #185. Since 1996, the popularity has decreased by 89.2%. In 2021, approximately 1 in every 15,526 boys born was named Gavin. RISING Recent data shows the name is currently rising.
Gavin is a long-established Celtic-rooted name with a polished, friendly sound. It is often linked with meanings such as "white hawk", though the historical lines behind it are somewhat layered.
The name has been used in Scotland and elsewhere in Britain for many centuries and later spread widely through the English-speaking world. It feels modern without ever losing its traditional base.