Meaning & origin
A reliable meaning for Gould isn’t established in our sources yet. Rather than guess, we show what is recorded: how the name is used, how often, and the names it’s connected to.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1914. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Gould through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 28
- 28 boys · 0 girls
- Most popular year
- 1914
- 7 babies
- 2025
- 0
- Outside the ranked list
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- —
- Too few births to compare
By the numbers
The most recent published U.S. birth count for boys is 5 in 1925. Later missing counts do not mean the name went unused. Its largest published annual count for boys was 7 in 1914. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 36,956 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Gould’s family of names
In English usage, Gould as a surname has a related form in Gold.
The ring: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 1
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Similar names
If you love Gould, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Gaines
“one who acquires”
>99% boys
Giles
“resembling a young goal”
>99% boys
Gerrit
“one who is mighty with a spear”
>99% boys
Garland
“decorated with a wreath of flowers” · “one who is crowned”
86% boys · 14% girls
Gardner
“one who works the earth” · “the keeper of the garden”
97% boys · 3% girls
Oswald
“the power of God”
>99% boys
Rowland
“from the renowned land”
>99% boys
Odie
“a sweet melody” · “one who is wealthy”
>99% boys