How to say it
GAV · in
ˈɡæv.ɪn
Masculine
Gavin
White hawk
What it means
A Scottish and Welsh form of Gawain; the meaning is uncertain, often read as 'white hawk' or 'hawk of May.'
Gavin is the Scottish and Welsh form of Gawain, the courteous knight of King Arthur's Round Table at the center of Gawain and the Green Knight. The original meaning is debated, with 'white hawk' and 'hawk of May' the usual guesses. It survived strongly in Scotland and spread widely in the late 20th century. It reads friendly and solid, with no fuss and no obvious nickname.
How to spell Gavin
The standard spelling is Gavin. Common variants include Gawain, Gavyn, Gaven, but Gavin is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #30 in 2008, currently #303 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Spelling
A modern form of the Arthurian Gawain.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Sir Gawain Round Table knight of Gawain and the Green Knight
- Gavin Newsom Governor of California
Spelling variants
- Gawain
- Gavyn
- Gaven
Names with the same feeling
See Gavin from another angle
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Gavin mean?
- A Scottish and Welsh form of Gawain; the meaning is uncertain, often read as 'white hawk' or 'hawk of May.'
- What does Gavin mean in Welsh?
- In Welsh, Gavin means "White hawk." Gavin is the Scottish and Welsh form of Gawain, the courteous knight of King Arthur's Round Table at the center of Gawain and the Green Knight. The original meaning is debated, with 'white hawk' and 'hawk of May' the usual guesses. It survived strongly in Scotland and spread widely in the late 20th century. It reads friendly and solid, with no fuss and no obvious nickname.
- How do you pronounce Gavin?
- Gavin is pronounced ˈɡæv.ɪn. Say it as GAV-in, with the stress on the "gav" syllable.
- How do you spell Gavin?
- The standard spelling is Gavin. Common spelling variants include Gawain, Gavyn, Gaven.
- Is Gavin a boy or girl name?
- Gavin is traditionally a masculine name.
- How popular is the name Gavin?
- Gavin ranked #303 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.