Agravain Name Meaning & Details
Origin, Popularity, Numerology Analysis & Name Meaning of Agravain
Discover the origin, meaning, and cultural significance of the name AGRAVAIN. Delve into its historical roots and explore the lasting impact it has had on communities and traditions.
Name
Agravain
Gender
Male
Origin
Arthurian
Lucky Number
1
Meaning of the Name - Agravain
Agravain is the name of a Knight of the Round Table, brother to the more famous Sir Gawain, in Arthurian legend. The name carries associations of knightly duty, family loyalty, and the complex moral choices that ultimately contribute to Camelot's downfall.
Agravain - Complete Numerology Analysis
Your Numerology Number
Based on Pythagorean Numerology System
Ruling Planet
Sun
Positive Nature
Leaders, ambitious, highly driven, self-reliant, innovative.
Negative Traits
Overly aggressive, domineering, impatient, selfish.
Lucky Colours
Red, orange, gold.
Lucky Days
Sunday.
Lucky Stones
Ruby, garnet.
Harmony Numbers
2, 3, 9.
Best Suited Professions
Entrepreneurs, managers, engineers.
What People Like About You
Courage, determination, leadership.
Famous People Named Agravain
Sir Agravain
Knight of the Round Table
Key figure in exposing the affair between Lancelot and Guinevere
Agravain des Vaux
Literary Character
Character in T.H. White's 'The Once and Future King'
Agravain of Orkney
Arthurian Knight
Member of the Orkney clan, son of King Lot and Morgause
Name Variations & International Equivalents
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Cultural & Historical Significance
In medieval romances, particularly in Thomas Malory's 'Le Morte d'Arthur,' Agravain plays a crucial role in the downfall of Camelot by leading the conspiracy to expose Queen Guinevere's affair with Lancelot. This act, while morally ambiguous, demonstrates his strict adherence to feudal loyalty over personal relationships. His character serves as a narrative device highlighting the inevitable collapse of Arthur's ideal kingdom, making him an essential figure in the tragic arc of the Arthurian cycle.
Throughout various Arthurian traditions, Agravain's characterization evolves from a relatively minor knight to a pivotal figure whose actions catalyze the final tragedy. His complex relationship with his brothers, particularly his loyalty to Gawain while pursuing actions that ultimately lead to family tragedy, adds psychological depth to the Arthurian narrative and reflects medieval concerns about honor, loyalty, and the consequences of rigid moral positions.
Extended Personality Analysis
Agravain is typically portrayed as stern, dutiful, and uncompromising in his principles, often contrasting with his more chivalrous brother Gawain. He exhibits a strong sense of loyalty to the institution of kingship rather than personal relationships, making him rigid in his judgments and actions. This moral inflexibility, while stemming from a desire to uphold Arthur's laws, often places him in conflict with other knights and contributes to his reputation as somewhat humorless and severe.
His personality combines fierce family loyalty with a tendency toward rash action and moral certainty. While he shares the Orkney brothers' characteristic hot temper, Agravain lacks the redeeming qualities of Gawain's courtesy or Gareth's gentleness. This complexity makes him a fascinating psychological study - a man torn between his duty to his king, his loyalty to his family, and his own rigid moral code. His eventual role in exposing Lancelot and Guinevere reveals both his courage and his tragic inability to see beyond strict adherence to rules.
In different literary traditions, Agravain's character shows variations - sometimes appearing as merely hot-headed and impulsive, while in other accounts he demonstrates calculated political maneuvering. This duality reflects the medieval understanding of knighthood as balancing martial prowess with courtly wisdom, with Agravain often representing the failure to achieve this balance. His ultimate fate, killed by Lancelot during the rescue of Guinevere, serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of inflexible virtue.
Modern Usage & Popularity
The name Agravain remains extremely rare in modern times, primarily used by Arthurian enthusiasts, historical fiction writers, or parents seeking unique mythological names. It has never appeared in popular baby name databases or charts, maintaining its status as a literary and historical name rather than a practical given name. Contemporary usage is almost exclusively limited to fictional characters in Arthurian retellings, fantasy literature, and role-playing games where its medieval authenticity and connection to the legendary cycle provide atmospheric value. The name's association with a morally complex and ultimately tragic character likely contributes to its lack of popularity as a given name, though it occasionally appears in academic contexts or specialized historical communities interested in Arthurian studies.
Symbolic & Spiritual Meanings
Agravain symbolizes the tension between absolute duty and human compassion, representing the dangers of rigid adherence to principles without consideration of consequences. He embodies the concept of the 'necessary villain' - a character whose actions, while morally questionable, serve to advance the inevitable tragic narrative. His role in Arthurian symbolism represents the fragility of idealized societies and how even well-intentioned loyalty can contribute to destruction when divorced from wisdom and mercy. The name carries connotations of political intrigue, family loyalty tested by higher duties, and the complex moral landscape of medieval chivalric codes, serving as a reminder that strict virtue untempered by compassion can be as destructive as outright villainy.