Declining since 2008, #4,139 for boys today.
Popularity of Gavyn since 1986
Babies named Gavyn per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1980s | 5 |
| 1990s | 373 |
| 2000s | 2,708 |
| 2010s | 1,906 |
| 2020s | 227 |
Meaning & origin
Gavyn is a modern spelling variant of Gavin, first recorded in the United States in 1986. The name saw a rise in popularity, achieving its peak rank of 2008, but has since been in decline, tracking a falling trajectory from 2008 through 2025, where it ranked 4139th with approximately 1 in 68,323 boys receiving the name. As a respelling of the Scottish classic Gavin, Gavyn fits within the trend of substituting 'y' for 'i' or 'e' to create a distinctive yet familiar sound. Its meaning is uncertain but is generally linked to the medieval Gawain and the Welsh 'gwalch' for hawk. Gavyn has not been widely associated with any particular U.S. state, reflecting its broad but modest usage.
Gavyn is a modern spelling variant of Gavin, which itself is a Scottish form of the medieval name Gawain. Gawain appears in Arthurian legend as a knight of the Round Table, and the name is thought to derive from the Welsh 'Gwalchmai' or a similar Celtic root meaning 'white hawk' or 'battle hawk'. The variant Gavyn emerged in the United States in the late 20th century as part of a trend of respelling traditional names with a 'y'.
Where Gavyn is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Gavy, Gav
Sibling names for Gavyn
Names that share Gavyn's style, for a brother or sister.
