Gould is of English origin, derived from an Old English word 'gold'. It typically served as a surname, denoting someone who worked with gold or had golden hair. However, it can also be used as a given name. The name Gould was popularized in the 19th century due to the influence of American ornithologist John Gould.
The name Gould experienced a notable decline in popularity during this period, with its peak in the early years and then maintaining a consistent lower number of births annually from 1920 onwards.