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#10,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201946peak #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 1946

  • 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: #341 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 3,195 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: #279 for girls · 10 births · 1 in 2,964 girlsMNIllinois: #239 for girls · 38 births · 1 in 2,057 girlsILWisconsin: #210 for girls · 17 births · 1 in 1,930 girlsWIMichigan: #243 for girls · 26 births · 1 in 2,388 girlsMINew York: #223 for girls · 72 births · 1 in 1,841 girlsNYMassachusetts: #178 for girls · 31 births · 1 in 1,435 girlsMARhode Island: #159 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 1,171 girlsRIOregon: #289 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 2,552 girlsORNevada: 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: #403 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 5,382 girlsINOhio: #290 for girls · 26 births · 1 in 2,956 girlsOHPennsylvania: #314 for girls · 27 births · 1 in 3,676 girlsPANew Jersey: #196 for girls · 27 births · 1 in 1,535 girlsNJConnecticut: #209 for girls · 10 births · 1 in 1,761 girlsCTCalifornia: #255 for girls · 54 births · 1 in 1,839 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: #320 for girls · 11 births · 1 in 3,334 girlsMOKentucky: #467 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 6,487 girlsKYWest Virginia: #345 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 3,643 girlsWVVirginia: #323 for girls · 10 births · 1 in 3,231 girlsVAMaryland: #231 for girls · 12 births · 1 in 1,756 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: #320 for girls · 12 births · 1 in 3,006 girlsTNNorth Carolina: #396 for girls · 10 births · 1 in 4,664 girlsNCSouth Carolina: #416 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 4,294 girlsSCDistrict of Columbia: #254 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 2,136 girlsDCOklahoma: #264 for girls · 11 births · 1 in 1,975 girlsOKLouisiana: #323 for girls · 14 births · 1 in 2,163 girlsLAMississippi: fewer than 5 girls named Gale, so not publishedMSAlabama: #366 for girls · 10 births · 1 in 3,543 girlsALGeorgia: #331 for girls · 14 births · 1 in 2,822 girlsGAHawaii: #138 for girls · 10 births · 1 in 477 girlsHITexas: #486 for girls · 19 births · 1 in 4,372 girlsTXFlorida: #311 for girls · 10 births · 1 in 2,437 girlsFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · girls
  1. Hawaii#138 · 1 in 477
  2. Rhode Island#159 · 1 in 1,171
  3. Massachusetts#178 · 1 in 1,435
  4. New Jersey#196 · 1 in 1,535
  5. Connecticut#209 · 1 in 1,761

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

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Hawaii#138101 in 477
Rhode Island#15961 in 1,171
Massachusetts#178311 in 1,435
New Jersey#196271 in 1,535
Connecticut#209101 in 1,761
Wisconsin#210171 in 1,930
New York#223721 in 1,841
Maryland#231121 in 1,756
Illinois#239381 in 2,057
Michigan#243261 in 2,388
District of Columbia#25451 in 2,136
California#255541 in 1,839
Oklahoma#264111 in 1,975
Minnesota#279101 in 2,964
Oregon#28951 in 2,552
Ohio#290261 in 2,956
Florida#311101 in 2,437
Pennsylvania#314271 in 3,676
Missouri#320111 in 3,334
Tennessee#320121 in 3,006
Louisiana#323141 in 2,163
Virginia#323101 in 3,231
Georgia#331141 in 2,822
Washington#34171 in 3,195
West Virginia#34561 in 3,643
Alabama#366101 in 3,543
North Carolina#396101 in 4,664
Indiana#40371 in 5,382
South Carolina#41661 in 4,294
Kentucky#46751 in 6,487
Texas#486191 in 4,372
Alaska———
Arizona———
Arkansas———
Colorado———
Delaware———
Idaho———
Iowa———
Kansas———
Maine———
Mississippi———
Montana———
Nebraska———
Nevada———
New Hampshire———
New Mexico———
North Dakota———
South Dakota———
Utah———
Vermont———
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 1946

girls
#310
566 births · 1 in 2,776 girls
boys
#370
305 births · 1 in 5,325 boys

Top girls' names in 1946

  1. #1Mary67,471
  2. #2Linda52,710
  3. #3Patricia46,297
  4. #4Barbara45,126
  5. #5Carol34,284
  6. #6Sandra31,692
  7. #7Nancy28,345
  8. #8Susan28,267
  9. #9Sharon27,824
  10. #10Judith22,310
  11. #310Gale566

Top boys' names in 1946

  1. #1James87,438
  2. #2Robert84,136
  3. #3John79,267
  4. #4William60,034
  5. #5Richard58,870
  6. #6David46,444
  7. #7Michael41,194
  8. #8Thomas38,877
  9. #9Charles38,215
  10. #10Ronald31,858
  11. #370Gale305
More about 1946

girls

1,571,305 girls got a published name in 1946; 1 in 2,776 of them was named Gale, which outranked 94.5% of the 5,686 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 24.5% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Gale
  1. #307Daisy579
  2. #308Myrtle571
  3. #309Gretchen567
  4. #310Gale566
  5. #311Patti565
  6. #312Alicia562
  7. #313Guadalupe561
Biggest movers since 1945
Risers
  1. ↑ 1,830Jacalyn#2,742 → #912
  2. ↑ 914Kimberly#1,621 → #707
  3. ↑ 615Suzette#1,032 → #417
  4. ↑ 538Randi#1,356 → #818
  5. ↑ 528Dayle#1,356 → #828
Fallers
  1. ↓ 335Oma#941 → #1,276
  2. ↓ 324Iola#824 → #1,148
  3. ↓ 324Artie#994 → #1,318
  4. ↓ 303Eartha#954 → #1,257
  5. ↓ 301Willia#830 → #1,131

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

boys

1,624,023 boys got a published name in 1946; 1 in 5,325 of them was named Gale, which outranked 90.8% of the 4,018 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 34.9% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Gale
  1. #367Edmond314
  2. #368Grover312
  3. #369Doug310
  4. #370Gale305
  5. #370Cary305
  6. #370Cleveland305
  7. #373Dwayne303
  8. #373Spencer303
  9. #375Roderick302

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

Biggest movers since 1945
Risers
  1. ↑ 584Zachary#1,536 → #952
  2. ↑ 514Patric#1,494 → #980
  3. ↑ 385Kris#1,296 → #911
  4. ↑ 385Rich#1,296 → #911
  5. ↑ 380Furman#1,270 → #890
Fallers
  1. ↓ 469Layton#971 → #1,440
  2. ↓ 438Farris#971 → #1,409
  3. ↓ 394Delano#558 → #952
  4. ↓ 312Leopoldo#864 → #1,176
  5. ↓ 290Rosevelt#927 → #1,217

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

See the top 100 for 1946 →