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#10,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201965peak #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 1965

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: #85 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 254 girlsAKMaine: #78 for girls · 28 births · 1 in 293 girlsMEVermont: #69 for girls · 12 births · 1 in 245 girlsVTNew Hampshire: #76 for girls · 20 births · 1 in 252 girlsNHWashington: #105 for girls · 56 births · 1 in 396 girlsWAIdaho: #198 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 782 girlsIDMontana: #103 for girls · 14 births · 1 in 347 girlsMTNorth Dakota: #85 for girls · 18 births · 1 in 282 girlsNDMinnesota: #93 for girls · 86 births · 1 in 365 girlsMNIllinois: #118 for girls · 172 births · 1 in 531 girlsILWisconsin: #93 for girls · 95 births · 1 in 386 girlsWIMichigan: #109 for girls · 159 births · 1 in 464 girlsMINew York: #104 for girls · 333 births · 1 in 462 girlsNYMassachusetts: #88 for girls · 131 births · 1 in 361 girlsMARhode Island: #80 for girls · 23 births · 1 in 318 girlsRIOregon: #133 for girls · 25 births · 1 in 539 girlsORNevada: #171 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 623 girlsNVWyoming: fewer than 5 girls named Gail, so not publishedWYSouth Dakota: #81 for girls · 17 births · 1 in 302 girlsSDIowa: #175 for girls · 26 births · 1 in 852 girlsIAIndiana: #148 for girls · 63 births · 1 in 682 girlsINOhio: #141 for girls · 129 births · 1 in 682 girlsOHPennsylvania: #107 for girls · 204 births · 1 in 456 girlsPANew Jersey: #100 for girls · 125 births · 1 in 431 girlsNJConnecticut: #100 for girls · 54 births · 1 in 426 girlsCTCalifornia: #177 for girls · 193 births · 1 in 838 girlsCAUtah: fewer than 5 girls named Gail, so not publishedUTColorado: #139 for girls · 27 births · 1 in 589 girlsCONebraska: #124 for girls · 23 births · 1 in 502 girlsNEMissouri: #113 for girls · 74 births · 1 in 492 girlsMOKentucky: #188 for girls · 27 births · 1 in 992 girlsKYWest Virginia: #159 for girls · 17 births · 1 in 798 girlsWVVirginia: #156 for girls · 48 births · 1 in 760 girlsVAMaryland: #126 for girls · 54 births · 1 in 522 girlsMDDelaware: #67 for girls · 15 births · 1 in 264 girlsDEArizona: #266 for girls · 11 births · 1 in 1,218 girlsAZNew Mexico: #328 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 1,615 girlsNMKansas: #163 for girls · 22 births · 1 in 700 girlsKSArkansas: #167 for girls · 19 births · 1 in 786 girlsARTennessee: #191 for girls · 31 births · 1 in 1,032 girlsTNNorth Carolina: #150 for girls · 58 births · 1 in 721 girlsNCSouth Carolina: #115 for girls · 48 births · 1 in 469 girlsSCDistrict of Columbia: #164 for girls · 16 births · 1 in 731 girlsDCOklahoma: #277 for girls · 11 births · 1 in 1,548 girlsOKLouisiana: #149 for girls · 54 births · 1 in 619 girlsLAMississippi: #158 for girls · 29 births · 1 in 717 girlsMSAlabama: #247 for girls · 22 births · 1 in 1,341 girlsALGeorgia: #135 for girls · 69 births · 1 in 592 girlsGAHawaii: #69 for girls · 22 births · 1 in 247 girlsHITexas: #238 for girls · 78 births · 1 in 1,230 girlsTXFlorida: #143 for girls · 68 births · 1 in 653 girlsFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · girls
  1. Delaware#67 · 1 in 264
  2. Vermont#69 · 1 in 245
  3. Hawaii#69 · 1 in 247
  4. New Hampshire#76 · 1 in 252
  5. Maine#78 · 1 in 293

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

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Delaware#67151 in 264
Hawaii#69221 in 247
Vermont#69121 in 245
New Hampshire#76201 in 252
Maine#78281 in 293
Rhode Island#80231 in 318
South Dakota#81171 in 302
Alaska#8591 in 254
North Dakota#85181 in 282
Massachusetts#881311 in 361
Minnesota#93861 in 365
Wisconsin#93951 in 386
Connecticut#100541 in 426
New Jersey#1001251 in 431
Montana#103141 in 347
New York#1043331 in 462
Washington#105561 in 396
Pennsylvania#1072041 in 456
Michigan#1091591 in 464
Missouri#113741 in 492
South Carolina#115481 in 469
Illinois#1181721 in 531
Nebraska#124231 in 502
Maryland#126541 in 522
Oregon#133251 in 539
Georgia#135691 in 592
Colorado#139271 in 589
Ohio#1411291 in 682
Florida#143681 in 653
Indiana#148631 in 682
Louisiana#149541 in 619
North Carolina#150581 in 721
Virginia#156481 in 760
Mississippi#158291 in 717
West Virginia#159171 in 798
Kansas#163221 in 700
District of Columbia#164161 in 731
Arkansas#167191 in 786
Nevada#17151 in 623
Iowa#175261 in 852
California#1771931 in 838
Kentucky#188271 in 992
Tennessee#191311 in 1,032
Idaho#19861 in 782
Texas#238781 in 1,230
Alabama#247221 in 1,341
Arizona#266111 in 1,218
Oklahoma#277111 in 1,548
New Mexico#32861 in 1,615
Utah———
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 1965

girls
#134
2,859 births · 1 in 617 girls
boys
#1,233
38 births · 1 in 48,951 boys

Top girls' names in 1965

  1. #1Lisa60,271
  2. #2Mary34,270
  3. #3Karen32,869
  4. #4Kimberly28,836
  5. #5Susan26,321
  6. #6Patricia23,552
  7. #7Donna19,700
  8. #8Linda19,345
  9. #9Cynthia19,239
  10. #10Angela18,754
  11. #134Gail2,859

Top boys' names in 1965

  1. #1Michael80,992
  2. #2John71,493
  3. #3David67,825
  4. #4James67,666
  5. #5Robert63,106
  6. #6William40,111
  7. #7Mark38,244
  8. #8Richard36,817
  9. #9Thomas31,595
  10. #10Jeffrey29,574
  11. #1,233Gail38
More about 1965

girls

1,765,164 girls got a published name in 1965; 1 in 617 of them was named Gail, which outranked 98.2% of the 7,535 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 16.0% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Gail
  1. #131Sylvia2,960
  2. #132Yvonne2,954
  3. #133Rose2,865
  4. #134Gail2,859
  5. #135Kristin2,829
  6. #136April2,812
  7. #137Helen2,800
Biggest movers since 1964
Risers
  1. ↑ 723Marni#1,610 → #887
  2. ↑ 654Dionne#1,281 → #627
  3. ↑ 432Marnie#1,016 → #584
  4. ↑ 426Keli#1,383 → #957
  5. ↑ 368Gia#1,334 → #966
Fallers
  1. ↓ 1,326Djuna#738 → #2,064
  2. ↓ 470Djuana#756 → #1,226
  3. ↓ 383Shirl#714 → #1,097
  4. ↓ 297Beverley#955 → #1,252
  5. ↓ 275Dottie#912 → #1,187

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

boys

1,860,143 boys got a published name in 1965; 1 in 48,951 of them was named Gail, which outranked 72.1% of the 4,425 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 28.4% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Gail
  1. #1,226Robbin39
  2. #1,226Stephanie39
  3. #1,226Trinidad39
  4. #1,233Gail38
  5. #1,233Anselmo38
  6. #1,233Aurelio38
  7. #1,233Cardell38
  8. #1,254Allyn37
  9. #1,254Brion37
  10. #1,254Darel37

Tied with 20 names at #1,233; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1964
Risers
  1. ↑ 785Trace#1,655 → #870
  2. ↑ 729Darran#1,729 → #1,000
  3. ↑ 655Daryn#1,371 → #716
  4. ↑ 648Darian#1,545 → #897
  5. ↑ 512Darryn#1,327 → #815
Fallers
  1. ↓ 1,557Jaimie#809 → #2,366
  2. ↓ 443Tammy#875 → #1,318
  3. ↓ 406Destry#637 → #1,043
  4. ↓ 318Dewitt#936 → #1,254
  5. ↓ 303Cassius#860 → #1,163

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

See the top 100 for 1965 →