Gale

Last seen for girls in 2023 at #15,194 · #6,446 for boys in 2025, 13 births
Given to girls 61.5% of the time

Showing
Show data for
Peak · girls
1957 · 1,210 births
Debut · girls
5 births
In top 100 · girls
never
of 146 years
Total births · girls
19,906
since 1893

Gale over time

girlsboys

Rank within each sex, plotted together. Click any year to open it.

#1#10#100#1,000#10,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201962peak #244, 1957peak #321, 1939girlsboys
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#6,44613
2024#6,46913
2023#15,1945#5,92715
2022#10,8636
2021
2020#9,5547
2019#12,4487#9,7567
2018#6,03614
2017#15,9025#7,54610
2016#8,8168
2015#8,7448
2014#8,1309
2013#14,5826#8,7898
2012
2011#14,8246
2010
2009
2008#12,5535
2007#9,7887
2006
2005#11,8348#11,4725
2004
2003#8,6437
2002#10,6675
2001
2000#15,0315#7,4168
1999#12,6886
1998#10,1228
1997#8,1106
1996#13,5185#7,9716
1995#10,5147
1994#13,4305#5,45210
1993#4,44713
1992#10,4797#6,1288
1991#8,5889#5,09610
1990#7,30311#5,8238
1989#8,0379#4,01713
1988#7,6919#4,7869
1987#5,31214#4,5739
1986#4,34718#5,3327
1985#3,85221#3,80511
1984#6,29110#2,95615
1983#3,24225#3,63011
1982#2,64535#3,28213
1981#4,00519#1,99627
1980#2,86631#2,53619
1979#3,07827#2,46519
1978#2,57233#2,47318
1977#2,42336#2,27020
1976#2,09941#2,05423
1975#1,68956#1,63031
1974#1,49965#1,19848
1973#1,38871#1,18648
1972#1,14196#1,36438
1971#1,17697#1,02663
1970#979128#1,13253
1969#826155#92068
1968#791160#1,00654
1967#669206#89365
1966#621234#89565
1965#640234#82081
1964#581290#79989
1963#538324#79591
1962#539329#78694
1961#446478#769101
1960#393587#691129
1959#319852#730110
1958#2721,052#660136
1957#2441,210#619154
1956#2551,077#543193
1955#2601,030#517199
1954#2591,015#453254
1953#264947#438263
1952#283820#381324
1951#275814#375329
1950#301662#372333
1949#319591#380314
1948#314601#361349
1947#271796#352377
1946#310566#370305
1945#321447#351287
1944#353382#354283
1943#348425#351302
1942#369365#351298
1941#365338#341287
1940#323389#323307
1939#392288#321291
1938#552152#324292
1937#556147#322284
1936#597122#344250
1935#587122#351244
1934#75678#336262
1933#1,10240#372213
1932#1,09742#372224
1931#1,75020#435169
1930#1,43429#418199
1929#1,41929#456168
1928#1,27136#445181
1927#1,27838#380241
1926#1,26238#436192
1925#1,53529#433190
1924#1,64327#384243
1923#1,42832#390232
1922#1,64626#461180
1921#1,20541#422205
1920#1,31235#457176
1919#1,60425#494145
1918#1,75422#474155
1917#1,77320#521123
1916#1,44526#537114
1915#1,52323#550104
1914#1,60317#52089
1913#2,3318#56459
1912#1,9819#64942
1911#1,45011#66722
1910#1,9357#92812
1909#1,6078#55822
1908#1,4399#58519
1907#66415
1906
1905#1,5387#74111
1904#1,0646
1903#65612
1902#7949
1901#63711
1900#1,23110#83610
1899
1898#1,0026
1897#1,3856#58413
1896#1,5835
1895#9786
1894#59412
1893#1,4375#61511
1892
1891
1890#9945
1889
1888#1,0315
1887#8196
1886
1885
1884
1883#8925
1882
1881
1880
First appearance
1893

The first year at least five girls were named Gale! It came in at #1,437, and was given to 5 baby girls.


Quietest stretch: 1893–1896, when fewer than 6 girls a year got the name.

Where Gale is popular in 1962

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: fewer than 5 girls named Gale, so not publishedAKMaine: fewer than 5 girls named Gale, so not publishedMEVermont: fewer than 5 girls named Gale, so not publishedVTNew Hampshire: fewer than 5 girls named Gale, so not publishedNHWashington: fewer than 5 girls named Gale, so not publishedWAIdaho: fewer than 5 girls named Gale, so not publishedIDMontana: fewer than 5 girls named Gale, so not publishedMTNorth Dakota: fewer than 5 girls named Gale, so not publishedNDMinnesota: #325 for girls · 13 births · 1 in 2,915 girlsMNIllinois: #411 for girls · 27 births · 1 in 3,810 girlsILWisconsin: #379 for girls · 10 births · 1 in 4,234 girlsWIMichigan: #459 for girls · 16 births · 1 in 5,130 girlsMINew York: #487 for girls · 34 births · 1 in 4,805 girlsNYMassachusetts: #549 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 10,273 girlsMARhode Island: fewer than 5 girls named Gale, so not publishedRIOregon: fewer than 5 girls named Gale, so not publishedORNevada: fewer than 5 girls named Gale, so not publishedNVWyoming: fewer than 5 girls named Gale, so not publishedWYSouth Dakota: fewer than 5 girls named Gale, so not publishedSDIowa: fewer than 5 girls named Gale, so not publishedIAIndiana: #460 for girls · 10 births · 1 in 4,840 girlsINOhio: #524 for girls · 15 births · 1 in 6,564 girlsOHPennsylvania: #618 for girls · 11 births · 1 in 9,486 girlsPANew Jersey: #399 for girls · 15 births · 1 in 3,804 girlsNJConnecticut: #421 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 4,735 girlsCTCalifornia: #649 for girls · 25 births · 1 in 6,939 girlsCAUtah: fewer than 5 girls named Gale, so not publishedUTColorado: #429 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 3,197 girlsCONebraska: fewer than 5 girls named Gale, so not publishedNEMissouri: #630 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 8,518 girlsMOKentucky: fewer than 5 girls named Gale, so not publishedKYWest Virginia: fewer than 5 girls named Gale, so not publishedWVVirginia: #491 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 5,748 girlsVAMaryland: #272 for girls · 16 births · 1 in 1,830 girlsMDDelaware: fewer than 5 girls named Gale, so not publishedDEArizona: fewer than 5 girls named Gale, so not publishedAZNew Mexico: fewer than 5 girls named Gale, so not publishedNMKansas: fewer than 5 girls named Gale, so not publishedKSArkansas: fewer than 5 girls named Gale, so not publishedARTennessee: fewer than 5 girls named Gale, so not publishedTNNorth Carolina: fewer than 5 girls named Gale, so not publishedNCSouth Carolina: #515 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 5,075 girlsSCDistrict of Columbia: #372 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 2,613 girlsDCOklahoma: #427 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 3,436 girlsOKLouisiana: #491 for girls · 10 births · 1 in 3,805 girlsLAMississippi: #396 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 2,746 girlsMSAlabama: fewer than 5 girls named Gale, so not publishedALGeorgia: fewer than 5 girls named Gale, so not publishedGAHawaii: fewer than 5 girls named Gale, so not publishedHITexas: #906 for girls · 10 births · 1 in 11,056 girlsTXFlorida: #559 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 5,467 girlsFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · girls
  1. Maryland#272 · 1 in 1,830
  2. Minnesota#325 · 1 in 2,915
  3. District of Columbia#372 · 1 in 2,613
  4. Wisconsin#379 · 1 in 4,234
  5. Mississippi#396 · 1 in 2,746

Best ever in a state: #114 in Rhode Island, 1940.

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Maryland#272161 in 1,830
Minnesota#325131 in 2,915
District of Columbia#37251 in 2,613
Wisconsin#379101 in 4,234
Mississippi#39691 in 2,746
New Jersey#399151 in 3,804
Illinois#411271 in 3,810
Connecticut#42151 in 4,735
Oklahoma#42761 in 3,436
Colorado#42961 in 3,197
Michigan#459161 in 5,130
Indiana#460101 in 4,840
New York#487341 in 4,805
Louisiana#491101 in 3,805
Virginia#49171 in 5,748
South Carolina#51551 in 5,075
Ohio#524151 in 6,564
Massachusetts#54951 in 10,273
Florida#55991 in 5,467
Pennsylvania#618111 in 9,486
Missouri#63051 in 8,518
California#649251 in 6,939
Texas#906101 in 11,056
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
Delaware
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Maine
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Mexico
North Carolina
North Dakota
Oregon
Rhode Island
South Dakota
Tennessee
Utah
Vermont
Washington
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 Gale
Momentum · girls
Faded out
  • Not published in 2025; last seen 2023
  • Biggest jump: 346 spots in 1934 (#1,102#756)
  • Biggest drop: 197 spots in 1971 (#979#1,176)
Rise & fade · girls
64 yrs to peak
  • Debuted 1893
  • Peaked 1957 at #244 (1,210 births)
  • Births halved by 1960, 3 yrs later
Top of the charts · girls
Top 1,000 for 37 yrs
  • Top 10: never
  • Top 100: never
  • Top 1,000: 37 yrs · run 1934–1970
Share of babies · girls
1 in 1,690
  • Highest: 1 in 1,690 girls born in 1957 were named Gale (0.06%)
  • Latest: 1 in 320,916 girls born in 2023 (0.00%)
Era · girls
The 1950s
  • 47.6% of all girls named Gale (9,479) were born in this decade
Girls or boys?
Flipped in 2020
  • Mostly girls until 2019, mostly boys since
all girlsall boys
Show by decade
DecadeBirthsBest rankAvg rank
1890s16#1,385 (1897)#1,468
1900s34#1,231 (1900)#1,454
1910s168#1,445 (1916)#1,740
1920s331#1,205 (1921)#1,400
1930s1,040#392 (1939)#882
1940s4,900#271 (1947)#329
1950s9,479#244 (1957)#273
1960s2,997#393 (1960)#604
1970s650#979 (1970)#1,804
1980s191#2,645 (1982)#4,829
1990s58#7,303 (1990)#10,830
2000s13#11,834 (2005)#13,433
2010s24#12,448 (2019)#14,439
2020s5#15,194 (2023)#15,194

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.

Gale in 1962

girls
#539
329 births · 1 in 5,978 girls
boys
#786
94 births · 1 in 22,008 boys

Top girls' names in 1962

  1. #1Lisa46,069
  2. #2Mary43,502
  3. #3Susan35,752
  4. #4Karen35,184
  5. #5Linda31,461
  6. #6Patricia26,532
  7. #7Donna25,719
  8. #8Cynthia24,025
  9. #9Deborah22,889
  10. #10Sandra22,420
  11. #539Gale329

Top boys' names in 1962

  1. #1Michael85,059
  2. #2David81,337
  3. #3John78,427
  4. #4James72,555
  5. #5Robert70,199
  6. #6Mark53,520
  7. #7William44,853
  8. #8Richard39,422
  9. #9Thomas36,529
  10. #10Jeffrey33,537
  11. #786Gale94
More about 1962

girls

1,966,603 girls got a published name in 1962; 1 in 5,978 of them was named Gale, which outranked 92.9% of the 7,584 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 15.9% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Gale
  1. #536Bessie330
  2. #536Cindi330
  3. #536Sandi330
  4. #539Gale329
  5. #539Lourdes329
  6. #541Marci328
  7. #542Luanne325
  8. #543Jacquline324

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

Biggest movers since 1961
Risers
  1. 1,281Tiffany#2,070#789
  2. 879Whitney#1,627#748
  3. 541Zina#1,533#992
  4. 414Glynis#1,406#992
  5. 408Lolita#978#570
Fallers
  1. 300Fern#821#1,121
  2. 259Jacklyn#815#1,074
  3. 255Dorthy#929#1,184
  4. 224Laurene#943#1,167
  5. 215Jimmie#911#1,126

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

boys

2,068,772 boys got a published name in 1962; 1 in 22,008 of them was named Gale, which outranked 83.0% of the 4,631 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 28.8% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Gale
  1. #779Jude95
  2. #779Lars95
  3. #779Lemuel95
  4. #786Gale94
  5. #786Adan94
  6. #786Jarvis94
  7. #786Len94
  8. #791Bradly93
  9. #791Brock93
  10. #793Delmar92

Tied with 4 names at #786; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1961
Risers
  1. 490Ritchie#1,262#772
  2. 353King#1,349#996
  3. 338Arlie#1,322#984
  4. 250Robb#1,052#802
  5. 243Pernell#928#685
Fallers
  1. 351Mariano#928#1,279
  2. 349Michal#910#1,259
  3. 337Loran#958#1,295
  4. 292Sid#967#1,259
  5. 275Lorenza#940#1,215

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

See the top 100 for 1962