Given name · also Celtic
Gareth
“one who is gentle”
Gareth is used as a given name. One Welsh interpretation is “one who is gentle.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
One Welsh interpretation is “one who is gentle.”
Where it comes from
This spelling has been associated with Celtic and Welsh naming traditions.
How it developed
This form developed as an English adaptation of a name used in another language.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1916. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Gareth through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 4,394
- 4,389 boys · 5 girls
- Most popular year
- 2016
- 104 babies
- 2025
- 46
- #2,776 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −34%
- Easing
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 46 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 2,776 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 33.5% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 104 in 2016. In 2025, Texas had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (7). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 4,779 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Gareth’s family of names
In English usage, Gareth has a diminutive in Gary. In English usage, Gareth developed from the Ancient Greek form Γέρων. Gareth has a related form in Garreth.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 11
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
- Garydiminutive · English
- Garthshort form · English
- Garrethvariant
- Gazzanickname · English
- Gaznickname · English
- Garrathvariant
- Garathvariant
- Garrythvariant
Show 3 moreShow fewer
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 2
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
See also 1
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Gareth
- Gareth BaleWelsh association football playerborn 1989
- Gareth BarryEnglish association football playerborn 1981
- Gareth SouthgateEnglish professional football manager and former player (born 1970)
- Gareth McAuleyNorthern Irish association football player (born 1979)
- Gareth EdwardsBritish filmmakerborn 1975
- Gareth JonesWelsh journalist (1905–1935)
- Gareth GatesBritish singerborn 1984
- Gareth EvansWelsh filmmaker (born 1980)
- Gareth EmeryEnglish electronic dance music producer and DJborn 1980
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Gareth, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Cormac
“a charioteer”
>99% boys
Angus
“one force; one strength; one choice”
>99% boys
Killian
“a warrior woman; of the church” · “one who is small and fierce”
98% boys · 2% girls
Finn
“white, fair” · “one who is cool”
99% boys · 1% girls
Declan
In Irish use, Declan is used as a form of Gaelic.
99% boys · 1% girls
Kieran
“having dark features; the little dark one”
97% boys · 3% girls
Aidan
“one who is fiery; little fire” · “a fiery young man”
99% boys · 1% girls
Sorley
“of the summer vikings”
>99% boys