Gustav /ˈɡʊstɑːv/, also spelled Gustaf, is a male given name of likely Old Swedish origin, used mainly in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Estonia, Germany, Austria, Hungary, the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, and South Africa, possibly meaning "staff of the Geats or Goths or gods", possibly derived from the Old Norse elements Gautr ("Geats"), Gutar/Gotar ("Goths"), goð ōs ("gods") and the word stafr ("staff"). Another etymology speculates that the name may be of Medieval Slavic origin, from the name Gostislav, a compound word for "glorious guest", from the Medieval Slavic words Gosti ("guest") and slava ("glory") and was adopted by migrating groups north and west into Germany and Scandinavia. This name has been borne by eight Kings of Sweden, including the 16th-century Gustav Vasa and the current king, Carl XVI Gustaf. It is a common name for Swedish monarchs since the reign of Gustav Vasa. The name has entered other languages as well. In French it is Gustave; in Italian and in the Portuguese and Spanish language it is Gustavo. The Latinised form is Gustavus. A side form of the name in Swedish is Gösta. The name in Finnish is Kustaa. In Icelandic, it is written Gústav or Gústaf.
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