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#10,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201957peak #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 1957

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: fewer than 5 girls named Gale, so not publishedAKMaine: #174 for girls · 11 births · 1 in 892 girlsMEVermont: fewer than 5 girls named Gale, so not publishedVTNew Hampshire: #143 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 688 girlsNHWashington: #429 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 4,112 girlsWAIdaho: fewer than 5 girls named Gale, so not publishedIDMontana: fewer than 5 girls named Gale, so not publishedMTNorth Dakota: #237 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 1,335 girlsNDMinnesota: #212 for girls · 28 births · 1 in 1,374 girlsMNIllinois: #215 for girls · 83 births · 1 in 1,307 girlsILWisconsin: #178 for girls · 38 births · 1 in 1,156 girlsWIMichigan: #205 for girls · 75 births · 1 in 1,268 girlsMINew York: #240 for girls · 108 births · 1 in 1,569 girlsNYMassachusetts: #193 for girls · 36 births · 1 in 1,495 girlsMARhode Island: fewer than 5 girls named Gale, so not publishedRIOregon: #275 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 1,772 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: #246 for girls · 16 births · 1 in 1,785 girlsIAIndiana: #237 for girls · 33 births · 1 in 1,573 girlsINOhio: #230 for girls · 68 births · 1 in 1,634 girlsOHPennsylvania: #207 for girls · 80 births · 1 in 1,476 girlsPANew Jersey: #186 for girls · 52 births · 1 in 1,108 girlsNJConnecticut: #216 for girls · 17 births · 1 in 1,463 girlsCTCalifornia: #276 for girls · 98 births · 1 in 1,673 girlsCAUtah: fewer than 5 girls named Gale, so not publishedUTColorado: #249 for girls · 14 births · 1 in 1,334 girlsCONebraska: #291 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 2,362 girlsNEMissouri: #223 for girls · 27 births · 1 in 1,673 girlsMOKentucky: #246 for girls · 18 births · 1 in 1,874 girlsKYWest Virginia: #363 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 3,293 girlsWVVirginia: #175 for girls · 40 births · 1 in 1,036 girlsVAMaryland: #157 for girls · 35 births · 1 in 869 girlsMDDelaware: fewer than 5 girls named Gale, so not publishedDEArizona: #410 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 2,730 girlsAZNew Mexico: fewer than 5 girls named Gale, so not publishedNMKansas: #246 for girls · 13 births · 1 in 1,676 girlsKSArkansas: #288 for girls · 10 births · 1 in 1,855 girlsARTennessee: #260 for girls · 18 births · 1 in 2,092 girlsTNNorth Carolina: #295 for girls · 24 births · 1 in 2,109 girlsNCSouth Carolina: #243 for girls · 20 births · 1 in 1,420 girlsSCDistrict of Columbia: #243 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 1,515 girlsDCOklahoma: #279 for girls · 11 births · 1 in 1,986 girlsOKLouisiana: #377 for girls · 15 births · 1 in 2,654 girlsLAMississippi: #394 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 3,259 girlsMSAlabama: #355 for girls · 13 births · 1 in 2,820 girlsALGeorgia: #339 for girls · 17 births · 1 in 2,706 girlsGAHawaii: #131 for girls · 13 births · 1 in 467 girlsHITexas: #328 for girls · 52 births · 1 in 2,220 girlsTXFlorida: #232 for girls · 34 births · 1 in 1,350 girlsFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · girls
  1. Hawaii#131 · 1 in 467
  2. New Hampshire#143 · 1 in 688
  3. Maryland#157 · 1 in 869
  4. Maine#174 · 1 in 892
  5. Virginia#175 · 1 in 1,036

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

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Hawaii#131131 in 467
New Hampshire#14381 in 688
Maryland#157351 in 869
Maine#174111 in 892
Virginia#175401 in 1,036
Wisconsin#178381 in 1,156
New Jersey#186521 in 1,108
Massachusetts#193361 in 1,495
Michigan#205751 in 1,268
Pennsylvania#207801 in 1,476
Minnesota#212281 in 1,374
Illinois#215831 in 1,307
Connecticut#216171 in 1,463
Missouri#223271 in 1,673
Ohio#230681 in 1,634
Florida#232341 in 1,350
Indiana#237331 in 1,573
North Dakota#23751 in 1,335
New York#2401081 in 1,569
District of Columbia#24391 in 1,515
South Carolina#243201 in 1,420
Iowa#246161 in 1,785
Kansas#246131 in 1,676
Kentucky#246181 in 1,874
Colorado#249141 in 1,334
Tennessee#260181 in 2,092
Oregon#27591 in 1,772
California#276981 in 1,673
Oklahoma#279111 in 1,986
Arkansas#288101 in 1,855
Nebraska#29161 in 2,362
North Carolina#295241 in 2,109
Texas#328521 in 2,220
Georgia#339171 in 2,706
Alabama#355131 in 2,820
West Virginia#36361 in 3,293
Louisiana#377151 in 2,654
Mississippi#39481 in 3,259
Arizona#41051 in 2,730
Washington#42971 in 4,112
Alaska———
Delaware———
Idaho———
Montana———
Nevada———
New Mexico———
Rhode Island———
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 1957

girls
#244
1,210 births · 1 in 1,690 girls
boys
#619
154 births · 1 in 14,008 boys

Top girls' names in 1957

  1. #1Mary61,102
  2. #2Susan45,954
  3. #3Linda44,517
  4. #4Debra42,728
  5. #5Karen40,591
  6. #6Deborah40,096
  7. #7Cynthia39,340
  8. #8Patricia39,283
  9. #9Barbara29,692
  10. #10Donna28,042
  11. #244Gale1,210

Top boys' names in 1957

  1. #1Michael92,781
  2. #2James84,337
  3. #3David82,403
  4. #4Robert81,765
  5. #5John79,033
  6. #6William56,852
  7. #7Mark52,841
  8. #8Richard52,446
  9. #9Thomas44,625
  10. #10Steven36,842
  11. #619Gale154
More about 1957

girls

2,044,851 girls got a published name in 1957; 1 in 1,690 of them was named Gale, which outranked 96.5% of the 7,015 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 20.1% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Gale
  1. #241Edna1,240
  2. #242Mona1,231
  3. #243Emma1,217
  4. #244Gale1,210
  5. #244Shelly1,210
  6. #246Emily1,207
  7. #247Tanya1,203
  8. #248Jacquelyn1,195

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

Biggest movers since 1956
Risers
  1. ↑ 2,944Tammi#3,696 → #752
  2. ↑ 1,310Tamela#2,151 → #841
  3. ↑ 1,298Tammie#1,662 → #364
  4. ↑ 993Tia#1,968 → #975
  5. ↑ 676Tamera#1,287 → #611
Fallers
  1. ↓ 423Corliss#878 → #1,301
  2. ↓ 399Glynis#977 → #1,376
  3. ↓ 367Merrie#977 → #1,344
  4. ↓ 303Taryn#935 → #1,238
  5. ↓ 291Glendora#963 → #1,254

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

boys

2,157,236 boys got a published name in 1957; 1 in 14,008 of them was named Gale, which outranked 86.4% of the 4,552 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 30.8% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Gale
  1. #615Kimberly156
  2. #615Nicky156
  3. #618Rock155
  4. #619Gale154
  5. #619Jake154
  6. #619Wilfredo154
  7. #622Noah153
  8. #623Otto152
  9. #624Jerrold151

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

Biggest movers since 1956
Risers
  1. ↑ 714Dion#1,642 → #928
  2. ↑ 404Wes#1,317 → #913
  3. ↑ 371Antoine#1,232 → #861
  4. ↑ 340Domenick#1,335 → #995
  5. ↑ 329Mitch#868 → #539
Fallers
  1. ↓ 458Lannie#999 → #1,457
  2. ↓ 402Desi#986 → #1,388
  3. ↓ 354Gavin#924 → #1,278
  4. ↓ 317Murphy#917 → #1,234
  5. ↓ 288Eliot#897 → #1,185

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

See the top 100 for 1957 →