Gareth (given name)

Gareth
PronunciationUK: /ˈɡærəθ/
US: /ˈɡɛrəθ/
Welsh: [ˈɡarɛθ]
GenderMasculine
Language(s)Welsh, English
Origin
Region of originBritain

Gareth[1] is a Welsh masculine given name.[2] The name's popularity in Wales may be as a hypocorism of Geraint, which itself became popular after the famous hero and king of Dumnonia.[3][2]

The modern name appears in Le Morte d'Arthur by Thomas Malory,[4] in which it belongs to Sir Gareth, a brother of Sir Gawain and one of the Knights of the Round Table. Malory either based the name on Gahariet (a name found in French Arthurian texts) or on the Welsh word gwaredd, meaning 'gentleness'.[3][5]

Notable people and characters named Gareth include:

  1. ^ "Definition of GARETH". www.merriam-webster.com. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  2. ^ a b Hanks, Patrick; Hodges, Flavia (2003). A Dictionary of First Names. Oxford University Press. p. 128. ISBN 0-19-860764-4. Retrieved 13 November 2024 – via Internet Archive.
  3. ^ a b "Welsh Names" (PDF). Twf Cymru. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 September 2012. Retrieved 2 September 2012.
  4. ^ "Concerning the Names Gareth and Garth". medievalscotland.org. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  5. ^ Campbell, Mike. "Gareth". Behind the Name: the etymology and history of first names. Retrieved 2 September 2012.