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#10,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201945peak #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 1945

  • 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: #213 for girls · 13 births · 1 in 1,470 girlsWAIdaho: 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: fewer than 5 girls named Gale, so not publishedMNIllinois: #225 for girls · 32 births · 1 in 1,922 girlsILWisconsin: #232 for girls · 11 births · 1 in 2,411 girlsWIMichigan: #233 for girls · 23 births · 1 in 2,168 girlsMINew York: #215 for girls · 67 births · 1 in 1,616 girlsNYMassachusetts: #178 for girls · 23 births · 1 in 1,510 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: #273 for girls · 11 births · 1 in 2,686 girlsINOhio: #334 for girls · 15 births · 1 in 3,982 girlsOHPennsylvania: #249 for girls · 34 births · 1 in 2,299 girlsPANew Jersey: #276 for girls · 12 births · 1 in 2,779 girlsNJConnecticut: #205 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 1,763 girlsCTCalifornia: #290 for girls · 38 births · 1 in 2,198 girlsCAUtah: fewer than 5 girls named Gale, so not publishedUTColorado: fewer than 5 girls named Gale, so not publishedCONebraska: fewer than 5 girls named Gale, so not publishedNEMissouri: #238 for girls · 16 births · 1 in 1,868 girlsMOKentucky: #370 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 3,838 girlsKYWest Virginia: fewer than 5 girls named Gale, so not publishedWVVirginia: #365 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 4,096 girlsVAMaryland: #257 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 1,946 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: #392 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 3,663 girlsARTennessee: #373 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 4,263 girlsTNNorth Carolina: #461 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 5,796 girlsNCSouth Carolina: fewer than 5 girls named Gale, so not publishedSCDistrict of Columbia: #216 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 1,571 girlsDCOklahoma: fewer than 5 girls named Gale, so not publishedOKLouisiana: #283 for girls · 16 births · 1 in 1,604 girlsLAMississippi: fewer than 5 girls named Gale, so not publishedMSAlabama: fewer than 5 girls named Gale, so not publishedALGeorgia: fewer than 5 girls named Gale, so not publishedGAHawaii: #203 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 913 girlsHITexas: #505 for girls · 16 births · 1 in 4,513 girlsTXFlorida: #323 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 2,495 girlsFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · girls
  1. Massachusetts#178 · 1 in 1,510
  2. Hawaii#203 · 1 in 913
  3. Connecticut#205 · 1 in 1,763
  4. Washington#213 · 1 in 1,470
  5. New York#215 · 1 in 1,616

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

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Massachusetts#178231 in 1,510
Hawaii#20351 in 913
Connecticut#20581 in 1,763
Washington#213131 in 1,470
New York#215671 in 1,616
District of Columbia#21661 in 1,571
Illinois#225321 in 1,922
Wisconsin#232111 in 2,411
Michigan#233231 in 2,168
Missouri#238161 in 1,868
Pennsylvania#249341 in 2,299
Maryland#25791 in 1,946
Indiana#273111 in 2,686
New Jersey#276121 in 2,779
Louisiana#283161 in 1,604
California#290381 in 2,198
Florida#32391 in 2,495
Ohio#334151 in 3,982
Virginia#36571 in 4,096
Kentucky#37071 in 3,838
Tennessee#37371 in 4,263
Arkansas#39251 in 3,663
North Carolina#46171 in 5,796
Texas#505161 in 4,513
Alabama———
Alaska———
Arizona———
Colorado———
Delaware———
Georgia———
Idaho———
Iowa———
Kansas———
Maine———
Minnesota———
Mississippi———
Montana———
Nebraska———
Nevada———
New Hampshire———
New Mexico———
North Dakota———
Oklahoma———
Oregon———
Rhode Island———
South Carolina———
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 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 1945

girls
#321
447 births · 1 in 2,924 girls
boys
#351
287 births · 1 in 4,689 boys

Top girls' names in 1945

  1. #1Mary59,278
  2. #2Linda41,465
  3. #3Barbara38,273
  4. #4Patricia35,844
  5. #5Carol30,389
  6. #6Sandra24,700
  7. #7Nancy21,456
  8. #8Sharon20,838
  9. #9Judith20,192
  10. #10Susan19,222
  11. #321Gale447

Top boys' names in 1945

  1. #1James74,464
  2. #2Robert69,947
  3. #3John66,117
  4. #4William50,218
  5. #5Richard46,046
  6. #6David37,110
  7. #7Charles32,469
  8. #8Thomas31,874
  9. #9Michael29,902
  10. #10Ronald23,665
  11. #351Gale287
More about 1945

girls

1,307,090 girls got a published name in 1945; 1 in 2,924 of them was named Gale, which outranked 93.9% of the 5,242 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 23.8% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Gale
  1. #318Glenna453
  2. #319Mable451
  3. #319Nelda451
  4. #321Gale447
  5. #322Claudette445
  6. #323Genevieve443
  7. #323Kaye443
Biggest movers since 1944
Risers
  1. ↑ 799Lauren#1,153 → #354
  2. ↑ 707Amber#1,661 → #954
  3. ↑ 648Laureen#1,315 → #667
  4. ↑ 630Deidre#1,609 → #979
  5. ↑ 623Candice#1,364 → #741
Fallers
  1. ↓ 395Bernardine#937 → #1,332
  2. ↓ 386Joella#988 → #1,374
  3. ↓ 342Venita#937 → #1,279
  4. ↓ 275Magdalene#867 → #1,142
  5. ↓ 249Alpha#964 → #1,213

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

boys

1,345,855 boys got a published name in 1945; 1 in 4,689 of them was named Gale, which outranked 90.7% of the 3,783 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 34.3% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Gale
  1. #347Robin293
  2. #347Wilfred293
  3. #350Aubrey291
  4. #351Gale287
  5. #351Angelo287
  6. #353Cleveland283
  7. #354Ricardo282
  8. #355Marcus280

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

Biggest movers since 1944
Risers
  1. ↑ 527Delano#1,085 → #558
  2. ↑ 499Dane#1,235 → #736
  3. ↑ 385Eusebio#1,328 → #943
  4. ↑ 371Erick#1,235 → #864
  5. ↑ 311Gerardo#1,282 → #971
Fallers
  1. ↓ 479Joan#870 → #1,349
  2. ↓ 408Kit#841 → #1,249
  3. ↓ 392Llewellyn#935 → #1,327
  4. ↓ 361Valentine#888 → #1,249
  5. ↓ 321Hilario#906 → #1,227

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

See the top 100 for 1945 →