The name Gustav has its origins in the Old Norse language. It is derived from the Old Norse elements "guð" meaning "god" and "stafr" meaning "staff". The name essentially means "staff of God" or "God's staff". The Old Norse spelling was Guðstafr.

Gustav was originally a Scandinavian name that emerged during the Viking Age, around the 8th to 11th centuries. It was prevalent in the regions of modern-day Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Iceland. The name later spread to other parts of Europe through Scandinavian exploration and settlement.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Gustav can be found in the Icelandic Sagas, a collection of historical stories written in the 13th and 14th centuries. The name appears in the Saga of Burnt Njal, which recounts events from the late 10th century.

Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Gustav. One of the most famous was Gustav I of Sweden, also known as Gustav Vasa (1496-1560), who was the king of Sweden from 1523 until his death. He is credited with establishing the modern Swedish nation-state and breaking the dominance of the Danish monarchy.

Another prominent Gustav was Gustav II Adolf of Sweden (1594-1632), who was the king of Sweden from 1611 until his death. He was a skilled military leader and played a significant role in the Thirty Years' War, where he helped to defend Protestantism in Europe.

In the realm of music, Gustav Mahler (1860-1911) was an influential Austrian composer and conductor of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His symphonic works, such as Symphony No. 5 and Symphony No. 9, are widely regarded as masterpieces of the Romantic period.

The name Gustav also has connections to literature. Gustav Flaubert (1821-1880) was a French novelist who is best known for his influential work "Madame Bovary", a landmark novel that is considered one of the first modern literary works.

Another notable Gustav was Gustav Klimt (1862-1918), an Austrian symbolist painter and one of the most prominent members of the Vienna Secession movement. His works, such as "The Kiss" and "Judith", are celebrated for their decorative and sensual style.