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#10,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201973peak #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 1973

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: fewer than 5 girls named Gail, so not publishedAKMaine: #220 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 1,188 girlsMEVermont: fewer than 5 girls named Gail, so not publishedVTNew Hampshire: fewer than 5 girls named Gail, so not publishedNHWashington: #262 for girls · 13 births · 1 in 1,445 girlsWAIdaho: fewer than 5 girls named Gail, so not publishedIDMontana: fewer than 5 girls named Gail, so not publishedMTNorth Dakota: #118 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 423 girlsNDMinnesota: #206 for girls · 20 births · 1 in 1,139 girlsMNIllinois: #245 for girls · 52 births · 1 in 1,350 girlsILWisconsin: #181 for girls · 26 births · 1 in 1,034 girlsWIMichigan: #276 for girls · 36 births · 1 in 1,636 girlsMINew York: #312 for girls · 56 births · 1 in 1,845 girlsNYMassachusetts: #158 for girls · 36 births · 1 in 881 girlsMARhode Island: #182 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 936 girlsRIOregon: #385 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 2,463 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: #335 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 2,716 girlsIAIndiana: #310 for girls · 17 births · 1 in 2,085 girlsINOhio: #291 for girls · 38 births · 1 in 1,849 girlsOHPennsylvania: #184 for girls · 68 births · 1 in 993 girlsPANew Jersey: #204 for girls · 35 births · 1 in 1,091 girlsNJConnecticut: #269 for girls · 10 births · 1 in 1,470 girlsCTCalifornia: #409 for girls · 53 births · 1 in 2,468 girlsCAUtah: fewer than 5 girls named Gail, so not publishedUTColorado: #386 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 2,236 girlsCONebraska: #235 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 1,289 girlsNEMissouri: #318 for girls · 14 births · 1 in 2,083 girlsMOKentucky: #415 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 3,313 girlsKYWest Virginia: fewer than 5 girls named Gail, so not publishedWVVirginia: #226 for girls · 24 births · 1 in 1,170 girlsVAMaryland: #286 for girls · 11 births · 1 in 1,710 girlsMDDelaware: fewer than 5 girls named Gail, so not publishedDEArizona: #249 for girls · 13 births · 1 in 1,137 girlsAZNew Mexico: #336 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 1,489 girlsNMKansas: #261 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 1,330 girlsKSArkansas: #319 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 1,780 girlsARTennessee: #386 for girls · 10 births · 1 in 2,744 girlsTNNorth Carolina: #435 for girls · 10 births · 1 in 3,487 girlsNCSouth Carolina: #354 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 2,297 girlsSCDistrict of Columbia: fewer than 5 girls named Gail, so not publishedDCOklahoma: fewer than 5 girls named Gail, so not publishedOKLouisiana: #361 for girls · 13 births · 1 in 1,976 girlsLAMississippi: #487 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 3,281 girlsMSAlabama: fewer than 5 girls named Gail, so not publishedALGeorgia: #351 for girls · 15 births · 1 in 2,271 girlsGAHawaii: #196 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 648 girlsHITexas: #516 for girls · 27 births · 1 in 3,495 girlsTXFlorida: #312 for girls · 24 births · 1 in 1,790 girlsFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · girls
  1. North Dakota#118 · 1 in 423
  2. Massachusetts#158 · 1 in 881
  3. Wisconsin#181 · 1 in 1,034
  4. Rhode Island#182 · 1 in 936
  5. Pennsylvania#184 · 1 in 993

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

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
North Dakota#11891 in 423
Massachusetts#158361 in 881
Wisconsin#181261 in 1,034
Rhode Island#18251 in 936
Pennsylvania#184681 in 993
Hawaii#19671 in 648
New Jersey#204351 in 1,091
Minnesota#206201 in 1,139
Maine#22051 in 1,188
Virginia#226241 in 1,170
Nebraska#23571 in 1,289
Illinois#245521 in 1,350
Arizona#249131 in 1,137
Kansas#26191 in 1,330
Washington#262131 in 1,445
Connecticut#269101 in 1,470
Michigan#276361 in 1,636
Maryland#286111 in 1,710
Ohio#291381 in 1,849
Indiana#310171 in 2,085
Florida#312241 in 1,790
New York#312561 in 1,845
Missouri#318141 in 2,083
Arkansas#31971 in 1,780
Iowa#33561 in 2,716
New Mexico#33651 in 1,489
Georgia#351151 in 2,271
South Carolina#35481 in 2,297
Louisiana#361131 in 1,976
Oregon#38551 in 2,463
Colorado#38671 in 2,236
Tennessee#386101 in 2,744
California#409531 in 2,468
Kentucky#41571 in 3,313
North Carolina#435101 in 3,487
Mississippi#48751 in 3,281
Texas#516271 in 3,495
Alabama———
Alaska———
Delaware———
District of Columbia———
Idaho———
Montana———
Nevada———
New Hampshire———
Oklahoma———
South Dakota———
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 1973

girls
#312
746 births · 1 in 1,955 girls
boys
#1,586
30 births · 1 in 51,953 boys

Top girls' names in 1973

  1. #1Jennifer62,448
  2. #2Amy26,962
  3. #3Michelle26,935
  4. #4Kimberly23,531
  5. #5Lisa22,677
  6. #6Melissa22,479
  7. #7Angela20,898
  8. #8Heather19,347
  9. #9Stephanie17,263
  10. #10Rebecca14,868
  11. #312Gail746

Top boys' names in 1973

  1. #1Michael67,797
  2. #2Christopher48,313
  3. #3Jason46,683
  4. #4James42,836
  5. #5David41,082
  6. #6John39,165
  7. #7Robert38,698
  8. #8Brian35,686
  9. #9William28,018
  10. #10Matthew24,531
  11. #1,586Gail30
More about 1973

girls

1,458,209 girls got a published name in 1973; 1 in 1,955 of them was named Gail, which outranked 96.8% of the 9,810 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 17.7% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Gail
  1. #309Deana754
  2. #310Desiree752
  3. #311Candy748
  4. #312Gail746
  5. #312Esther746
  6. #314Nina741
  7. #315Lorraine733
  8. #315Lynette733

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

Biggest movers since 1972
Risers
  1. ↑ 4,091Cicely#4,793 → #702
  2. ↑ 2,295Aubrey#3,177 → #882
  3. ↑ 1,847Nyree#2,680 → #833
  4. ↑ 1,533Danyell#2,523 → #990
  5. ↑ 1,496Vonetta#2,311 → #815
Fallers
  1. ↓ 1,814Camisha#815 → #2,629
  2. ↓ 470Andra#904 → #1,374
  3. ↓ 416Cherilyn#823 → #1,239
  4. ↓ 284Keena#848 → #1,132
  5. ↓ 281Nicolle#734 → #1,015

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

boys

1,558,576 boys got a published name in 1973; 1 in 51,953 of them was named Gail, which outranked 73.0% of the 5,877 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 26.5% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Gail
  1. #1,548Susan31
  2. #1,548Sydney31
  3. #1,548Terri31
  4. #1,586Gail30
  5. #1,586Akiva30
  6. #1,586Burl30
  7. #1,586Christen30
  8. #1,612Akil29
  9. #1,612Antwoine29
  10. #1,612Breck29

Tied with 25 names at #1,586; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1972
Risers
  1. ↑ 2,348Vashon#3,152 → #804
  2. ↑ 1,405Jory#2,158 → #753
  3. ↑ 348Pernell#1,262 → #914
  4. ↑ 345Enoch#1,307 → #962
  5. ↑ 273Tarik#1,177 → #904
Fallers
  1. ↓ 669Jabbar#917 → #1,586
  2. ↓ 361Wes#993 → #1,354
  3. ↓ 326Paris#797 → #1,123
  4. ↓ 284Christophe#984 → #1,268
  5. ↓ 272Bennett#851 → #1,123

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

See the top 100 for 1973 →