Parsifal

The first name Parsifal is an old German variant of the old French name Perceval, which became popular through Richard Wagner. Originally, this name may trace back to the Celtic name Peredur. The transformation of the name was likely influenced by the interpretation 'perce val' (meaning 'the one who crosses the valley').

What does the name Parsifal mean?

The boy's name Parsifal is an old German form of the old French name Perceval and likely has its origins in the Celtic name Peredur. The name can be interpreted as 'the one who crosses the valley' as well as 'the hard spears'. Its meaning derives from the old French elements perce, which means 'to pierce', 'to penetrate', or 'to stab', and val, which stands for 'valley'. These words are derived from the Celtic components peri for 'spears' and dur for 'hard' or 'steel'. Parsifal is known as the name of a knight of King Arthur's Round Table as well as the title of an opera by Richard Wagner. Other variants of the name include Parzival, Percival, Percy, and Perce.

Where does the name Parsifal come from?

The name Parsifal has its roots in old French and Celtic and means 'the one who crosses the valley'. The etymology consists of the old French terms perce, which means 'to pierce, to penetrate, to stab', and val, which stands for 'valley'. These terms are derived from the Celtic name Peredur, where peri means 'spears' and dur means 'hard, steel'. The name is common in both Old High German and modern German.

How do you pronounce Parsifal?

The pronunciation of the name Parsifal is three syllables and has a lively rhythm. It is pronounced as 'Par-si-fal' [ˈpaʁzɪfal], starting with an open 'a' that immediately conveys presence. The middle syllable is brighter and shorter, while the darker '-fal' at the end gives the name a certain depth and resonance. Parsifal sounds mystical and meaningful – poetic, epic, and endowed with a legendary sound power.

Popularity

In Germany, Parsifal is a rather rare first name. In 2020, it ranked 4,047th on the list of the most common male first names. Its best ranking was in 2012, when it reached 3,479th place. In the last ten years, the name has been given as a first name fewer than 10 times, placing it at 8,008th in the ten-year statistics. From 2010 to 2024, Parsifal is ranked 7,742nd.

Nicknames & pet names

Parsi

Famous people

• Parsifal Bassi (actor from Italy)
• Paul Rudolf Parsifal Adlon (German film director)