The baby name Gareth stepped out of medieval legend but still sounds rather dashing.
Thanks to Moira for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day.
WHAT DOES THE NAME GARETH MEAN?
Gareth is one of the legendary knights of King Arthur and Camelot. Like many of those Round Table names, Gareth comes from a mix of Welsh legend by way of French medieval tales, translated into English – with a bit of confusion and creative license along the way.
Scholars suggest that Welsh name Gwrhyd meaning “valor” is a likely origin for the baby name Gareth. Gwrhyd appears on the map in Wales as a place name, and the home of a former church, once significant in the community.
There’s also Gaheriet, used in medieval French by authors like Chrétien de Troyes. It looks a little closer to the English Gareth.
Sir Thomas Malory compiled Arthurian legend into Le Morte d’Arthur in 1485.
His Gareth is the brother of Gawain, better known today as Gavin. They’re often described as King Arthur’s nephews.
Malory isn’t the only author to re-tell those stories, of course. Along the way, Gawain sometimes had two brothers: Gareth and Gaheris, or another combination of names. Gareth is also associated with a knight know as Beaumains.
Le Morte d’Arthur tells us that Gareth and Lynette rescue Lyonesse from the Red Knight. In some versions, he marries Lyonesse.
Nearly every version makes Gareth noble, sometimes in contrast to others. So regardless of the name’s exact etymology, it does seem to mean valor – or something in that category.
There’s also Geraint, a name from Welsh folklore and an early medieval Welsh king. In this case, though, Geraint is probably from a Latin name: Gerontius, meaning old man.
One more possibility: the Welsh word gwaredd means “gentleness.” It’s often associated with the baby name Gareth.
20th CENTURY FAVORITE
Various names from the legends of Camelot have been discovered and revived over the years.
During the 19th century, Tennyson used the name in his poems, like “Gareth and Lynette.”
For much of the 20th century, the baby name Gareth enjoyed modest popularity in England & Wales.
The similar Garrett also trended in the English-speaking world during the 20th century. But it’s not a cousin. Instead, Garrett comes from Gerald and Gerard, both ultimately derived from the Germanic element ger, meaning spear.
Gary is a cousin to Gerald and Gerard. It boomed during the 20th century in the US, partly due to American actor Gary Cooper.
Garth is yet another similar-sounding name. But it’s an English surname from Old Norse roots. Garth means garden.
All of this makes Gareth the pitch perfect name for a British man – possibly artistocratic, but maybe not.
Famous figures include:
- In the original version of The Office, Gareth is the Dwight-like figure.
- There’s a Gareth in 1994 British rom com Four Weddings and a Funeral.
- He’s a villain in The Walking Dead and a military commander in The Wheel of Time.
- Now that Ralph Fiennes has replaced Judi Dench as M in the Bond movies, his character’s full name is Gareth Mallory.
Dozens and dozens of real-life Gareths, most born during the 20th century, are Welsh, English, or from elsewhere in the English-speaking world.
But the name has never been especially popular in US.
HOW POPULAR IS THE NAME GARETH?
The baby name Gareth peaked circa 1980 elsewhere in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand.
But in the US? Gareth has never ranked in the US Top 1000.
Peak usage was 2016, with 104 births. As of 2024, that number dropped to just 50 boys in the US receiving the name.
Perhaps American parents recognize that Gareth now reads a little middle-aged elsewhere. Or maybe it’s just never quite caught on.
For what it’s worth, Gary, Gerard, and Gerald have all left the US Top 1000, too. Garrett still ranks, but is falling in use.
POLISHED and RARE
Despite this fall in popularity, Gareth might still be the perfect baby name for parents after something that reads a little bit Anglophile. It’s polished and unexpected, a name that mixes strength and all that Camelot legend with a current sound.
TH is having a moment. Just ask Theo and Thaddeus, Ethan, Nathaniel, and Heath.
If you’re looking for a name that everyone recognizes, but almost no one is using, Gareth might be the right choice for your family.
What do you think of the baby name Gareth?
First published on May 25, 2011, this post was revised on April 23, 2026.
There’s something about Gareth that just kind of makes me go, “Eh… meh… no.” A bit dated feeling, but for no good reason, and just a little unappealing. I think perhaps that’s the -eth ending.
Also, it reminds me of Jareth, and while I love Labyrinth, it’d always pop up an image of David Bowie in a far too revealing pair of spandex. Eek.
I really like Gareth’s sound and wish he wasn’t so strongly associated with the character from The Office. I actually find the ends-in-th sounds incredibly attractive — it’s such a surprising sound to end a name in!
I love Tennyson’s “Gareth and Lynnette” and I’m a big fan of other Arthurian names: Geraint, Elaine, Lyonors, Enid, Lionel, Owain.
My only concern with the Gareth is that my brother is named Gary and I worried that I’d be stepping on some toes naming a child after him, (even though it’s a different name.) It’s one of those sticky family things and has nothing to with Gareth…Which I think is an excellent name.
Gareth David-Lloyd, played Ianto on the Doctor Who spinoff Torchwood.
I actually love the “-eth” ending on Gareth. Count me in with those whose Gareth would be just Gareth and never Gary, thank you very much 🙂 Gary just reminds me of Gary, Indiana and brings to mind sad, annoying middle aged men (no offense to any Garys!)
Yes Gareth sounds a bit close to the word garish, but I don’t think it’s too close to completely knock Gareth. I had no idea of his origins; definitely makes me love the name even more.
I watched all of the British Office and I still love Gareth. Maybe it’s just my soft spot for the awkwardly handsome actor who played him. Anyway, Gareth gets two thumbs up from me!
We considered this as a middle based on the meaning in the baby name book we were using. It was listed as meaning “gentle” which is a character trait my husband, as a 6’4″ strong man, values. He likes the idea of men who aren’t afraid to be strong, but use their strength for good. He’s also an avid Arthurian legend fan, so that was a bonus. Unfortunately the “-eth” ending was the deal breaker for us. It just wasn’t an attractive sound to us.
My dad was Gary. I like most of the Gar- names (Garrison, Garrett), except Garth. And I suspect many Americans would see Gareth as Garth, given the popularity of that name.
I grew up in the South-West of England, and then lived in Wales for some years so Gareth, to me, seems like a really common, everyday name. Another interesting individual called Gareth is Gareth Peirce, a lawyer/solicitor who is famous for defending the underdog, namely Muslims and Irish. She was played by Emma Thompson in In The Name Of The Father. Yes, Gareth is a WOMAN, although she is the only female Gareth I have ever heard of…
A friend in England told me Gareth was considered a nerdy name there, though I don’t know if that is because of the character named Gareth in the UK version of The Office who became the Dwight character played by Rainn Wilson in the US version, or if the name was already thought of as geeky before that. I used to think it was quite handsome, but it does seem a little like a fancy-pants version of Gary.
Gareth Pugh is a fashion designer in the UK whose designs are very creative and theatrical but not particularly wearable.
I don’t like it. The -eth ending is quite repulsive.
I like Gary! Gareth is, to me, a fancy way to get to him. It’s funny, Ken likes Gareth, I prefer Gary. Seems like a win-win no? But He says no because I’d call a Gareth, Gary all the time. And Gary? Well, That’s a sore point with him. I had a thing with a Gary after the boys were born but before he came home. It didn’t last but any form of the name is off table because of it. Maybe one of my boys will use Gareth so I can call him Gary! So sweet, Gary. Most people will think of their Uncle Gary, I know 7 or 8 people with an Uncle Gary. *sigh* I like Gary!