Gaston

Gaston is a masculine given name of French origin. It has appeared in France since the Middle Ages and has been carried to other countries through migration and culture. The name is used as a standalone given name and, less commonly, as a surname or place name. In the United States, several towns and a county bear the name Gaston.

Notable people with the given name include Gaston Bachelard (1884–1962), a French philosopher and poet known for his work on the imagination and the philosophy of space. Other individuals named Gaston have contributed to politics, sports, arts, and science, though they may be less widely known internationally.

In popular culture, Gaston is the name of the antagonist in Disney's Beauty and the Beast (1991) and its adaptations. The character is typically depicted as a boastful hunter whose confidence and vanity contrast with the protagonist's worldview.

When used as a place name, Gaston appears in multiple locations in the United States, including Gaston County, North Carolina, and towns named Gaston in various states. The term can also be part of longer toponyms and administrative names.