gus

Gus is a masculine given name and nickname. It is commonly used as a shortened form of Augustus, Gustav, Angus, or Gustave, and it is also used as a name in its own right in English-speaking countries and elsewhere.

The name traces to the Latin Augustus, meaning venerable or majestic, a title historically attached to Roman emperors. As a nickname, Gus often accompanies the longer forms listed above, but it is frequently chosen independently by parents seeking a concise, familiar name.

Notable people with the name include Gus Grissom (Virgil Ivan Grissom, 1926–1967), an American NASA astronaut and a member of the Mercury Seven; Gus Van Sant (born 1952), an American film director; and the fictional Gustavo Fring, known as Gus, from the television series Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul.

In contemporary use, Gus remains a common given name or nickname in English-speaking contexts and is sometimes adopted by individuals who prefer a simple, approachable form of a longer name.