Pervis

Pervis is a masculine given name and, less frequently, a surname. In usage, it is most common in the United States and parts of the English-speaking world. The origin of the name is not definitively established; it is sometimes linked as a variant of Percival or as a phonetic development of other names, though there is no consensus. As a surname, Pervis is rare and unevenly distributed.

Notable people with the given name include Pervis Ellison (born 1967), an American former professional basketball player who played in the NBA after a standout college career at the University of Louisville. Ellison earned the nickname "Never Nervous Pervis" for his performance in the 1986 NCAA tournament and his NBA tenure with teams including the Sacramento Kings. Other individuals named Pervis have appeared in various fields, including sports, arts, and public life, but none widely documented with the breadth of Ellison's recognition.

The name has appeared in popular culture and in local or familial contexts, but there is no single defining association beyond these uses. In onomastic resources, Pervis is listed among rare given names and as an occasional surname, with regional clusters largely in North America.