Name meaning & stats
Gareth
Gareth means “gentle” (Welsh origin). 4,040 US babies since 1940, peak 2016. Notable Gareths are 4.1× over-represented as rugby players.
What it means
“gentle”
WelshWell documented
In US birth records
Peak year: 2016
4,040 US babies were named Gareth between 1940 and 2025.
Where Gareths end up
Not enough notable Gareths yet, so this uses the spelling family: Gareth, Garrett, Garth, Garret.
| Career | vs expected | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Footballer | 1.4× | High · 52 people |
| Rugby player | 4.1× | High · 33 people |
| Actor | 1.0× | High · 31 people |
| NFL-style footballer | 0.9× | High · 31 people |
Among notable men who are rugby players, the Gareth family show up 4.1× as often as you'd expect from how common the name is.
Notable people born 1940–2005 in the US, UK, Canada and Australia (Wikidata). Patterns, not destiny.
One more thing…
Gareth has a surprise career: 1.4×
Spelling family
1 in 41 Garretts spell it Gareth
Names that sound the same, grouped by Heyotag. Share of US babies since 1940.
Name twins (peaked around 2016)