How Many People Are Named Gale?

Complete statistics for the name Gale: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.

Gale
Rare
English

Gale means 'strong wind' and it's very rare, with only 1 in 17,085 Americans having this name. There are 19,315 people named Gale living in the US today, making it quite unique. The majority of Gales are over 60, giving the name a decidedly older-generation feel.

~14,988
Living in US
1 in 22,114
Americans
1957
Peak Year

📖 Meaning & Origin

💬
Meaning
Strong wind
🌐
Origin
English
🔢
Numerology
Life Path 7
Personality Traits
Determined Independent
7
Life Path Number

Life-path number 7 traditionally represents introspection, wisdom, and spiritual growth.

🌍 Worldwide Usage

19,315
Worldwide Bearers
#14,454
Global Rank
🇳🇵 Nepal
332
🇮🇩 Indonesia
264
🇬🇭 Ghana
225
🇳🇬 Nigeria
145
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Scotland
103
🇮🇶 Iraq
101
🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea
90
🇳🇿 New Zealand
66
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Wales
60
🇳🇪 Niger
56

⚥ Gender Distribution

♂ Male
4,749 (25%)
♀ Female
14,566 (75%)

📊 Births by Age Group

Avg Cohort Age: 77
204
Would be under 30 (1%)
2,442
Would be 30–60 (8%)
29,684
Would be over 60 (92%)

All 32,330 recorded US births for this name, grouped by the age those individuals would be today. Not adjusted for survival, so the number living today is lower (see the living estimate above).

📈 Popularity Over Time

Peak: 1957

Annual US births from SSA records  ·  Trend: Rising

🏆 Name Scorecard

Popularity
98
Classic Feel
71
Modern Appeal
29
International
5

Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency

📜 Gale Through the Generations

Gale has seen its peak popularity in 1957 when there were 1,364 births, marking a significant moment in the name's history. Today, the name's trend is rising, indicating a resurgence of interest in this classic, old-school moniker. With most Gales being over 60 years old, it's clear that the name has a strong association with an earlier era, and its current revival suggests a nostalgic appeal among parents looking for a timeless choice.

📍 State Distribution (Top 10)

New York 2,306
Illinois 2,150
California 2,000
Ohio 1,891
Michigan 1,862
Pennsylvania 1,670
Missouri 964
Wisconsin 935
Indiana 903
New Jersey 826

⭐ Famous People Named Gale

Gale is a given name. It has seen masculine and feminine use consecutively in the United States. Gale as a man's name is from an English surname, ultimately from Middle English gaile "jovial". As a woman's name, it is often a short form of the name Abigail. It can also be used as a form of the name Galen, a name derived from that of the ancient Greek physician, meaning "tranquil."…

Full list on Wikipedia →

✨ Similar Names to Gale

🌿 Related Names by Origin

Other names sharing Gale's English roots

📄 About the Name Gale

How Many People Have the Name Gale?

Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 14,988 people in the United States currently share the name Gale. That works out to roughly 1 in every 22,114 Americans, placing it in the Rare category.

Is Gale a Common or Rare Name?

Gale is classified as Rare. The rarity scale runs from Very Common (shared by millions) through Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Very Rare. Understanding where a name sits helps parents gauge uniqueness, genealogists narrow down records, and individuals settle debates about their own name's distinctiveness.

What Does the Name Gale Mean?

Gale means "strong wind" and comes from English origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 7.

Gender Breakdown

Of all recorded bearers of Gale in SSA data, approximately 25% are male and 75% are female.

When Was Gale Most Popular?

The name Gale reached peak popularity in 1957, with 1,364 babies registered that year. Current trend: Rising.

How Is This Data Calculated?

All figures are statistical estimates, not exact government headcounts. The underlying data comes from the SSA National Baby Names dataset. Full methodology is explained on the methodology page.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

How many people are named Gale?

Approximately 14,988 people named Gale live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 14,988. That works out to roughly 1 in 22,114 Americans.

Is Gale a rare name?

Gale is classified as Rare in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 22,114 Americans has this name.

What does the name Gale mean?

Gale means "strong wind" and comes from English origins.

Is Gale more male or female?

Based on SSA records, 25% of people named Gale are male and 75% are female.

When was Gale most popular?

Gale peaked in 1957 with 1,364 births that year. Current trend: Rising.

How accurate are these statistics?

All figures are statistical estimates based on SSA birth records and age-adjusted modeling. See the methodology page for full details.

Disclaimer: All results are statistical estimates based on aggregated SSA birth records and modeling. Not exact counts of individuals. Data source: SSA National Baby Names dataset.
Quick Stats
Living in US14,988
All-Time Births14,988
1 in X1 in 22,114
RarityRare
GenderFemale
Avg Age77
Peak Year1957
World Rank#14,454
Male %25%
Female %75%

Check the statistics for any first or last name

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Data Source

Powered by the SSA National Baby Names dataset, birth registrations from 1880 to present.

All counts are statistical estimates. See the methodology page.