Is Gale a boy's or girl's name?

Gale is primarily a girl's name. It is also used as a boy's name, with 12,424 recorded births.

When was Gale most popular?

Gale reached its peak popularity in 1957 with 1,210 births that year. It is not currently in the top rankings.

How popular is the name Gale?

Gale is not currently in the top rankings but has been given to 19,906 babies in the U.S. since 1893. Its peak was in 1957.

Gale

An uncommon Old Norse pick — distinctive and rare.

Girl's name| Also boysOld NorseNot ranked recently Also a pet name

Rare name

Meaning & Origin

A surname.

Gale is a boy's and girl's baby name of Old Norse origin, from the Old Norse gal (singer, enchanter) or the Old English Gaegel (a cheerful person), meaning 'singer' or 'lively, cheerful' — used as both a masculine and feminine name with different cultural associations.

With over 12,400 recorded births, Gale is a name used for both boys and girls in America. Crystal Gayle (the country singer), Gale Harold (the actor), and Dorothy's tornado in The Wizard of Oz (a 'Gale') represent the name's range across music, drama, and American mythology. The wind meaning — a gale is a strong wind — gives it a natural, elemental quality alongside the more ancient singer/enchanter meaning.

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Popularity Over Time

Gale has 102+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1893.

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Gale
Decade	Births	Avg Rank	Trend
2020s	5	#15972	▼
2010s	24	#15081	▲
2000s	13	#14034	▼
1990s	58	#11270	▼
1980s	191	#4919	▼
1970s	650	#1812	▼
1960s	2,997	#605	▼
1950s	9,479	#273	▲
1940s	4,900	#329	▲
1930s	1,040	#886	▲
1920s	331	#1409	▲
1910s	168	#1777	▲
1900s	34	#1496	▲
1890s	16	#1541	—

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(102 years, 1893–2023)

Year-by-year popularity data for the name Gale
Year	Births	Rank	Change
2023	5	#15972	-2 (-28.6%)
2019	7	#12899	+2 (40.0%)
2017	5	#16703	-1 (-16.7%)
2013	6	#15253	0
2011	6	#15470	-2 (-25.0%)
2005	8	#12208	+3 (60.0%)
2000	5	#15860	-1 (-16.7%)
1999	6	#13241	-2 (-25.0%)
1998	8	#10436	+3 (60.0%)
1996	5	#14246	-2 (-28.6%)
1995	7	#10896	+2 (40.0%)
1994	5	#14170	-2 (-28.6%)
1992	7	#10859	-2 (-22.2%)
1991	9	#8832	-2 (-18.2%)
1990	11	#7482	+2 (22.2%)
1989	9	#8258	0
1988	9	#7917	-5 (-35.7%)
1987	14	#5392	-4 (-22.2%)
1986	18	#4415	-3 (-14.3%)
1985	21	#3894	+11 (110.0%)

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.

Gale as a Boy's Name

Though more common for girls, Gale has a notable history as a boy's name too, with 12,424 births since 1883.

#6562

Current rank

12,424

Total births

1947

Peak year

Compare Gale as girl vs boy

Frequently Asked

Can Gale be used for both boys and girls?

Yes, Gale is used for both boys and girls. As a girl's name, it is not currently ranked. As a boy's name, it ranks #6562.

Gale has two lives

Gale, the baby name

Raregirls

19,906 babies

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Last updated May 2026 · Data: U.S. Social Security Administration (1893–2023) · Methodology