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#10,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201978peak #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 1978

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: fewer than 5 girls named Gail, so not publishedAKMaine: fewer than 5 girls named Gail, so not publishedMEVermont: fewer than 5 girls named Gail, so not publishedVTNew Hampshire: fewer than 5 girls named Gail, so not publishedNHWashington: #424 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 2,868 girlsWAIdaho: fewer than 5 girls named Gail, so not publishedIDMontana: fewer than 5 girls named Gail, so not publishedMTNorth Dakota: fewer than 5 girls named Gail, so not publishedNDMinnesota: #298 for girls · 12 births · 1 in 2,212 girlsMNIllinois: #444 for girls · 23 births · 1 in 3,083 girlsILWisconsin: #431 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 4,138 girlsWIMichigan: #515 for girls · 13 births · 1 in 4,427 girlsMINew York: #505 for girls · 28 births · 1 in 3,512 girlsNYMassachusetts: #432 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 3,707 girlsMARhode Island: fewer than 5 girls named Gail, so not publishedRIOregon: #362 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 2,206 girlsORNevada: fewer than 5 girls named Gail, so not publishedNVWyoming: fewer than 5 girls named Gail, so not publishedWYSouth Dakota: fewer than 5 girls named Gail, so not publishedSDIowa: #340 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 2,655 girlsIAIndiana: #390 for girls · 12 births · 1 in 2,900 girlsINOhio: #352 for girls · 25 births · 1 in 2,758 girlsOHPennsylvania: #377 for girls · 24 births · 1 in 2,750 girlsPANew Jersey: #385 for girls · 15 births · 1 in 2,418 girlsNJConnecticut: #268 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 1,576 girlsCTCalifornia: #637 for girls · 32 births · 1 in 4,792 girlsCAUtah: fewer than 5 girls named Gail, so not publishedUTColorado: #355 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 2,162 girlsCONebraska: #302 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 1,965 girlsNEMissouri: #347 for girls · 12 births · 1 in 2,555 girlsMOKentucky: #381 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 2,986 girlsKYWest Virginia: fewer than 5 girls named Gail, so not publishedWVVirginia: #489 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 3,977 girlsVAMaryland: #401 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 2,608 girlsMDDelaware: fewer than 5 girls named Gail, so not publishedDEArizona: fewer than 5 girls named Gail, so not publishedAZNew Mexico: #346 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 1,637 girlsNMKansas: fewer than 5 girls named Gail, so not publishedKSArkansas: fewer than 5 girls named Gail, so not publishedARTennessee: fewer than 5 girls named Gail, so not publishedTNNorth Carolina: #623 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 5,395 girlsNCSouth Carolina: #505 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 3,410 girlsSCDistrict of Columbia: fewer than 5 girls named Gail, so not publishedDCOklahoma: fewer than 5 girls named Gail, so not publishedOKLouisiana: #476 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 3,057 girlsLAMississippi: fewer than 5 girls named Gail, so not publishedMSAlabama: fewer than 5 girls named Gail, so not publishedALGeorgia: #669 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 5,375 girlsGAHawaii: fewer than 5 girls named Gail, so not publishedHITexas: #751 for girls · 17 births · 1 in 6,082 girlsTXFlorida: #500 for girls · 13 births · 1 in 3,386 girlsFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · girls
  1. Connecticut#268 · 1 in 1,576
  2. Minnesota#298 · 1 in 2,212
  3. Nebraska#302 · 1 in 1,965
  4. Iowa#340 · 1 in 2,655
  5. New Mexico#346 · 1 in 1,637

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

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Connecticut#26891 in 1,576
Minnesota#298121 in 2,212
Nebraska#30251 in 1,965
Iowa#34071 in 2,655
New Mexico#34651 in 1,637
Missouri#347121 in 2,555
Ohio#352251 in 2,758
Colorado#35581 in 2,162
Oregon#36271 in 2,206
Pennsylvania#377241 in 2,750
Kentucky#38181 in 2,986
New Jersey#385151 in 2,418
Indiana#390121 in 2,900
Maryland#40171 in 2,608
Washington#42481 in 2,868
Wisconsin#43171 in 4,138
Massachusetts#43281 in 3,707
Illinois#444231 in 3,083
Louisiana#47691 in 3,057
Virginia#48971 in 3,977
Florida#500131 in 3,386
New York#505281 in 3,512
South Carolina#50551 in 3,410
Michigan#515131 in 4,427
North Carolina#62361 in 5,395
California#637321 in 4,792
Georgia#66961 in 5,375
Texas#751171 in 6,082
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
Delaware
District of Columbia
Hawaii
Idaho
Kansas
Maine
Mississippi
Montana
Nevada
New Hampshire
North Dakota
Oklahoma
Rhode Island
South Dakota
Tennessee
Utah
Vermont
West Virginia
Wyoming

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 1978

girls
#495
392 births · 1 in 3,908 girls
boys
#3,400
11 births · 1 in 149,258 boys

Top girls' names in 1978

  1. #1Jennifer56,314
  2. #2Melissa28,327
  3. #3Jessica26,102
  4. #4Amy23,213
  5. #5Heather22,270
  6. #6Amanda20,520
  7. #7Angela20,517
  8. #8Sarah19,976
  9. #9Michelle18,856
  10. #10Nicole17,279
  11. #495Gail392

Top boys' names in 1978

  1. #1Michael67,127
  2. #2Jason51,600
  3. #3Christopher47,236
  4. #4David40,684
  5. #5James39,894
  6. #6Matthew34,282
  7. #7John34,014
  8. #8Robert33,374
  9. #9Brian29,432
  10. #10Joseph26,663
  11. #3,400Gail11
More about 1978

girls

1,531,859 girls got a published name in 1978; 1 in 3,908 of them was named Gail, which outranked 95.7% of the 11,475 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 16.5% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Gail
  1. #492Tera395
  2. #493Kisha394
  3. #494Marianne393
  4. #495Gail392
  5. #495Darcy392
  6. #497Aubrey389
  7. #498Susana388
  8. #499Marci387

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

Biggest movers since 1977
Risers
  1. 4,240Aja#4,652#412
  2. 1,987Kiley#2,606#619
  3. 1,951Kylee#2,838#887
  4. 1,785Winter#2,780#995
  5. 1,620Kylie#2,026#406
Fallers
  1. 913Shalon#868#1,781
  2. 760Farah#854#1,614
  3. 519Tennille#462#981
  4. 398Shawnte#740#1,138
  5. 362Farrah#177#539

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

boys

1,641,837 boys got a published name in 1978; 1 in 149,258 of them was named Gail, which outranked 49.7% of the 6,762 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 24.6% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Gail
  1. #3,215Yoel12
  2. #3,215Yvonne12
  3. #3,215Zacharias12
  4. #3,400Gail11
  5. #3,400Adrienne11
  6. #3,400Aleksandar11
  7. #3,400Alexei11
  8. #3,614Abdulla10
  9. #3,614Adriano10
  10. #3,614Adrion10

Tied with 213 names at #3,400; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1977
Risers
  1. 3,237Dequan#4,164#927
  2. 626Nicholaus#1,367#741
  3. 617Nicklaus#1,515#898
  4. 578Zebulon#1,476#898
  5. 424Anwar#1,121#697
Fallers
  1. 674Kinte#834#1,508
  2. 668Kunta#572#1,240
  3. 417Telly#732#1,149
  4. 415Lesley#937#1,352
  5. 310Amin#904#1,214

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

See the top 100 for 1978