Gail

#8,362 for girls in 2025, 12 births · Last seen for boys in 1989 at #6,941
Given to girls 95.8% of the time

Showing
Show data for
Peak · girls
1951 · 9,886 births
Debut · girls
5 births
In top 100 · girls
25 yrs
of 146 years
Total births · girls
201,746
since 1881

Gail over time

girls

Rank among girls' names. Click any year to open it.

#1#10#100#1,000#10,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201949peak #36, 1951girls
Hover or use arrow keys to read values by year; click or press Enter to open that year.

Gaps mean fewer than 5 babies received the name that year, so the SSA doesn't publish it.

Show data table
Yeargirlsboys
rankbirthsrankbirths
2025#8,36212
2024#6,64217
2023#5,75221
2022#8,03213
2021#5,95520
2020#6,08319
2019#7,34215
2018#6,52118
2017#8,29913
2016#6,18620
2015#7,61315
2014#8,48513
2013#5,48624
2012#5,89522
2011#8,19614
2010#7,88015
2009#6,81119
2008#6,79919
2007#5,89523
2006#6,12521
2005#5,26624
2004#3,26546
2003#3,73137
2002#4,17930
2001#4,32128
2000#3,52737
1999#3,14841
1998#2,42957
1997#2,30958
1996#2,15163
1995#2,39454
1994#2,10265
1993#1,85477
1992#1,63093
1991#1,375117
1990#1,279127
1989#1,225131#6,9416
1988#1,129136#6,4266
1987#1,064144#4,9688
1986#1,001154#6,7215
1985#838194
1984#698238#6,3155
1983#627275#5,4846
1982#593306#5,6196
1981#624290#2,68017
1980#605303#5,5256
1979#536350#3,16813
1978#495392#3,40011
1977#484392#2,91014
1976#425475#2,24520
1975#370560#1,83526
1974#346628#1,83225
1973#312746#1,58630
1972#267987#1,45334
1971#2491,184#1,35239
1970#2221,424#1,79424
1969#2021,562#1,30237
1968#1801,802#1,36632
1967#1632,022#1,23137
1966#1512,301#1,19439
1965#1342,859#1,23338
1964#1253,446#1,23639
1963#1054,104#1,05252
1962#1034,380#93965
1961#944,973#88275
1960#905,428#1,00858
1959#756,344#747105
1958#726,608#79089
1957#547,952#738103
1956#498,435#699112
1955#428,972#685115
1954#379,726#694108
1953#399,585#576155
1952#399,760#543167
1951#369,886#505180
1950#428,350#510173
1949#517,225#456210
1948#516,603#468202
1947#497,242#469205
1946#496,227#438209
1945#524,832#459167
1944#564,526#438195
1943#554,810#425213
1942#604,445#404227
1941#683,609#414199
1940#653,621#424190
1939#733,355#384217
1938#773,214#408193
1937#992,635#371218
1936#1012,342#367220
1935#1271,800#393194
1934#1641,176#373212
1933#264541#415171
1932#337354#454156
1931#415239#493135
1930#476198#484151
1929#516172#483147
1928#528173#455176
1927#515186#560122
1926#483206#439189
1925#563163#449179
1924#568165#470172
1923#581154#417208
1922#609142#467175
1921#483204#462177
1920#523181#466171
1919#494184#444176
1918#465206#455170
1917#434217#450158
1916#456196#462151
1915#551135#459143
1914#553102#52588
1913#67858#55261
1912#68953#66840
1911#76632#64423
1910#73733#56925
1909#70632#95110
1908#70930#74413
1907#63135#55919
1906#61134#70912
1905#1,01114#9198
1904#55936#68612
1903#58931#52717
1902#64826#68711
1901#63025#59612
1900#67628#9029
1899#52632#7868
1898#57132#66311
1897#52132#9426
1896#48736#7789
1895#52032#57913
1894#62822#66810
1893#48731#53813
1892#61621#64111
1891#47529#7667
1890#57820
1889#58919#8786
1888#66315#8157
1887#7889
1886#65712#8456
1885#52017
1884#7938
1883#6928
1882#6788#7547
1881#8305
1880
First appearance
1881

The first year at least five girls were named Gail! It came in at #830, and was given to 5 baby girls.


Quietest stretch: 1881, when fewer than 6 girls a year got the name.

Where Gail is popular in 1949

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: fewer than 5 girls named Gail, so not publishedAKMaine: #19 for girls · 103 births · 1 in 89 girlsMEVermont: #28 for girls · 33 births · 1 in 107 girlsVTNew Hampshire: #21 for girls · 58 births · 1 in 86 girlsNHWashington: #34 for girls · 152 births · 1 in 165 girlsWAIdaho: #66 for girls · 24 births · 1 in 256 girlsIDMontana: #74 for girls · 22 births · 1 in 276 girlsMTNorth Dakota: #46 for girls · 36 births · 1 in 185 girlsNDMinnesota: #38 for girls · 175 births · 1 in 186 girlsMNIllinois: #38 for girls · 452 births · 1 in 190 girlsILWisconsin: #36 for girls · 222 births · 1 in 166 girlsWIMichigan: #35 for girls · 409 births · 1 in 173 girlsMINew York: #24 for girls · 1,061 births · 1 in 134 girlsNYMassachusetts: #26 for girls · 456 births · 1 in 98 girlsMARhode Island: #28 for girls · 78 births · 1 in 93 girlsRIOregon: #47 for girls · 68 births · 1 in 221 girlsORNevada: #69 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 223 girlsNVWyoming: #104 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 425 girlsWYSouth Dakota: #83 for girls · 21 births · 1 in 335 girlsSDIowa: #100 for girls · 56 births · 1 in 487 girlsIAIndiana: #91 for girls · 90 births · 1 in 467 girlsINOhio: #61 for girls · 331 births · 1 in 262 girlsOHPennsylvania: #57 for girls · 428 births · 1 in 240 girlsPANew Jersey: #23 for girls · 348 births · 1 in 122 girlsNJConnecticut: #21 for girls · 184 births · 1 in 94 girlsCTCalifornia: #40 for girls · 558 births · 1 in 203 girlsCAUtah: #124 for girls · 16 births · 1 in 514 girlsUTColorado: #62 for girls · 52 births · 1 in 274 girlsCONebraska: #100 for girls · 27 births · 1 in 498 girlsNEMissouri: #88 for girls · 87 births · 1 in 445 girlsMOKentucky: #94 for girls · 69 births · 1 in 494 girlsKYWest Virginia: #125 for girls · 33 births · 1 in 723 girlsWVVirginia: #71 for girls · 103 births · 1 in 347 girlsVAMaryland: #44 for girls · 121 births · 1 in 186 girlsMDDelaware: #30 for girls · 26 births · 1 in 112 girlsDEArizona: #108 for girls · 22 births · 1 in 405 girlsAZNew Mexico: #198 for girls · 10 births · 1 in 867 girlsNMKansas: #82 for girls · 48 births · 1 in 374 girlsKSArkansas: #106 for girls · 45 births · 1 in 497 girlsARTennessee: #79 for girls · 94 births · 1 in 401 girlsTNNorth Carolina: #73 for girls · 143 births · 1 in 343 girlsNCSouth Carolina: #115 for girls · 60 births · 1 in 463 girlsSCDistrict of Columbia: #54 for girls · 53 births · 1 in 217 girlsDCOklahoma: #77 for girls · 58 births · 1 in 371 girlsOKLouisiana: #60 for girls · 131 births · 1 in 256 girlsLAMississippi: #164 for girls · 40 births · 1 in 729 girlsMSAlabama: #134 for girls · 60 births · 1 in 623 girlsALGeorgia: #54 for girls · 171 births · 1 in 249 girlsGAHawaii: #13 for girls · 67 births · 1 in 79 girlsHITexas: #102 for girls · 196 births · 1 in 483 girlsTXFlorida: #51 for girls · 114 births · 1 in 236 girlsFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · girls
  1. Hawaii#13 · 1 in 79
  2. Maine#19 · 1 in 89
  3. New Hampshire#21 · 1 in 86
  4. Connecticut#21 · 1 in 94
  5. New Jersey#23 · 1 in 122

Best ever in a state: #8 in Hawaii, 1951.

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Hawaii#13671 in 79
Maine#191031 in 89
Connecticut#211841 in 94
New Hampshire#21581 in 86
New Jersey#233481 in 122
New York#241,0611 in 134
Massachusetts#264561 in 98
Rhode Island#28781 in 93
Vermont#28331 in 107
Delaware#30261 in 112
Washington#341521 in 165
Michigan#354091 in 173
Wisconsin#362221 in 166
Illinois#384521 in 190
Minnesota#381751 in 186
California#405581 in 203
Maryland#441211 in 186
North Dakota#46361 in 185
Oregon#47681 in 221
Florida#511141 in 236
District of Columbia#54531 in 217
Georgia#541711 in 249
Pennsylvania#574281 in 240
Louisiana#601311 in 256
Ohio#613311 in 262
Colorado#62521 in 274
Idaho#66241 in 256
Nevada#6951 in 223
Virginia#711031 in 347
North Carolina#731431 in 343
Montana#74221 in 276
Oklahoma#77581 in 371
Tennessee#79941 in 401
Kansas#82481 in 374
South Dakota#83211 in 335
Missouri#88871 in 445
Indiana#91901 in 467
Kentucky#94691 in 494
Iowa#100561 in 487
Nebraska#100271 in 498
Texas#1021961 in 483
Wyoming#10461 in 425
Arkansas#106451 in 497
Arizona#108221 in 405
South Carolina#115601 in 463
Utah#124161 in 514
West Virginia#125331 in 723
Alabama#134601 in 623
Mississippi#164401 in 729
New Mexico#198101 in 867
Alaska

Ranks are within each state; “1 in N” is out of the girls born there that year. The SSA only publishes a name in a state when 5 or more babies of one sex got it.

See more about Gail
Momentum · girls
Falling
  • 1,720 spots since 2024 (#6,642#8,362)
  • 2,279 spots since 2020 (#6,083#8,362)
  • 749 spots since 2015 (#7,613#8,362)
  • Biggest jump: 400 spots in 1906 (#1,011#611)
  • Biggest drop: 452 spots in 1905 (#559#1,011)
Rise & fade · girls
70 yrs to peak
  • Debuted 1881
  • Peaked 1951 at #36 (9,886 births)
  • Births halved by 1962, 11 yrs later
Top of the charts · girls
Top 100 for 25 yrs
  • Top 10: never
  • Top 100: 25 yrs · run 1937–1961
  • Top 1,000: 104 yrs · run 1906–1985
Share of babies · girls
1 in 182
  • Highest: 1 in 182 girls born in 1951 were named Gail (0.55%)
  • Latest: 1 in 133,939 girls born in 2025 (0.00%)
Era · girls
The 1950s
  • 42.4% of all girls named Gail (85,618) were born in this decade
Show by decade
DecadeBirthsBest rankAvg rank
1880s101#520 (1885)#690
1890s287#475 (1891)#541
1900s291#559 (1904)#677
1910s1,216#434 (1917)#582
1920s1,746#483 (1926)#537
1930s15,854#73 (1939)#213
1940s53,140#49 (1947)#56
1950s85,618#36 (1951)#49
1960s32,877#90 (1960)#135
1970s7,138#222 (1970)#371
1980s2,171#593 (1982)#840
1990s752#1,279 (1990)#2,067
2000s284#3,265 (2004)#4,992
2010s169#5,486 (2013)#7,190
2020s102#5,752 (2023)#6,804

All figures count published births only (names given to at least 5 girls in a year). Registrations before 1937 are incomplete, so early shares and totals run low.

Gail in 1949

girls
#51
7,225 births · 1 in 237 girls
boys
#456
210 births · 1 in 8,447 boys

Top girls' names in 1949

  1. #1Linda91,015
  2. #2Mary66,874
  3. #3Patricia46,324
  4. #4Barbara42,600
  5. #5Susan37,709
  6. #6Sandra30,643
  7. #7Nancy29,249
  8. #8Carol26,780
  9. #9Kathleen26,357
  10. #10Sharon25,713
  11. #51Gail7,225

Top boys' names in 1949

  1. #1James86,858
  2. #2Robert83,873
  3. #3John81,178
  4. #4William61,506
  5. #5Michael60,047
  6. #6David59,611
  7. #7Richard50,946
  8. #8Thomas45,192
  9. #9Charles40,052
  10. #10Larry31,819
  11. #456Gail210
More about 1949

girls

1,710,877 girls got a published name in 1949; 1 in 237 of them was named Gail, which outranked 99.2% of the 6,066 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 24.7% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Gail
  1. #48Diana7,535
  2. #49Frances7,440
  3. #50Phyllis7,315
  4. #51Gail7,225
  5. #52Kathryn7,184
  6. #53Alice6,660
  7. #54Rita6,653
Biggest movers since 1948
Risers
  1. 937Sharman#1,708#771
  2. 665Roseanna#1,422#757
  3. 483Shauna#1,173#690
  4. 293Jacalyn#1,116#823
  5. 267Sanjuana#1,185#918
Fallers
  1. 339Sandie#939#1,278
  2. 296Syble#955#1,251
  3. 272Shirleen#964#1,236
  4. 266Ginny#734#1,000
  5. 260Dina#861#1,121

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

boys

1,773,939 boys got a published name in 1949; 1 in 8,447 of them was named Gail, which outranked 89.2% of the 4,205 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 33.9% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Gail
  1. #453Christian218
  2. #454Emil217
  3. #454Jason217
  4. #456Gail210
  5. #456Colin210
  6. #458Reuben207
  7. #459Drew206
  8. #459Elwood206

Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1948
Risers
  1. 538Lannie#1,107#569
  2. 411Lenwood#1,296#885
  3. 338Robby#1,296#958
  4. 326Ocie#1,323#997
  5. 319Denzil#1,127#808
Fallers
  1. 473Loyal#989#1,462
  2. 446Rich#963#1,409
  3. 395Brock#733#1,128
  4. 376Baron#972#1,348
  5. 333Murry#989#1,322

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

See the top 100 for 1949