How Many People Are Named Gayle?

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

Gayle
Rare
Old English

Gayle is a rare female name with roots in Old English, meaning 'from the glade'. It's estimated that 1 in 7,257 Americans today are named Gayle, making up a total of 45,475 people. The majority of those named Gayle are over 60, reflecting its status as an old-school classic.

~8,282
Living in US
1 in 40,020
Americans
1951
Peak Year

📖 Meaning & Origin

💬
Meaning
From the glade
🌐
Origin
Old English
🔢
Numerology
Life Path 5
Personality Traits
Friendly Adventurous
5
Life Path Number

People with the life path number 5 are known for their adaptability and love of freedom.

🌍 Worldwide Usage

45,475
Worldwide Bearers
#7,014
Global Rank
🇬🇭 Ghana
225
🇮🇪 Ireland
132
🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
90
🇮🇳 India
78
🇳🇱 Netherlands
76
🇩🇴 Dominican Republic
74
🇲🇹 Malta
68
🇯🇲 Jamaica
62
🇩🇪 Germany
61
🇵🇪 Peru
36

⚥ Gender Distribution

♂ Male
1,740 (4%)
♀ Female
43,735 (96%)

📊 Births by Age Group

Avg Cohort Age: 74
295
Would be under 30 (0%)
7,045
Would be 30–60 (11%)
58,969
Would be over 60 (89%)

All 66,309 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: 1951

Annual US births from SSA records  ·  Trend: Slowly declining

🏆 Name Scorecard

Popularity
99
Classic Feel
76
Modern Appeal
24
International
5

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

📜 Gayle Through the Generations

Gayle reached its peak popularity in 1951 when 2,929 babies were given this name. Since then, its usage has slowly declined, but it remains a cherished choice among older generations. Today, the age distribution shows a significant skew towards the elderly, with 89% of people named Gayle being over 60 years old, indicating that it's predominantly a name associated with the older generation.

📍 State Distribution (Top 10)

California 5,925
Ohio 4,257
Illinois 4,194
Michigan 3,702
New York 3,626
Pennsylvania 2,986
Texas 2,832
Minnesota 2,397
Massachusetts 1,849
Indiana 1,718

⭐ Famous People Named Gayle

Gayle is a variant spelling of Gail, a short form of the name Abigail.…

Full list on Wikipedia →

✨ Similar Names to Gayle

🌿 Related Names by Origin

Other names sharing Gayle's Old English roots

📄 About the Name Gayle

How Many People Have the Name Gayle?

Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 8,282 people in the United States currently share the name Gayle. That works out to roughly 1 in every 40,020 Americans, placing it in the Rare category.

Is Gayle a Common or Rare Name?

Gayle 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 Gayle Mean?

Gayle means "from the glade" and comes from Old English origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 5.

Gender Breakdown

Of all recorded bearers of Gayle in SSA data, approximately 4% are male and 96% are female.

When Was Gayle Most Popular?

The name Gayle reached peak popularity in 1951, with 2,929 babies registered that year. Current trend: Slowly declining.

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 Gayle?

Approximately 8,282 people named Gayle live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 8,282. That works out to roughly 1 in 40,020 Americans.

Is Gayle a rare name?

Gayle is classified as Rare in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 40,020 Americans has this name.

What does the name Gayle mean?

Gayle means "from the glade" and comes from Old English origins.

Is Gayle more male or female?

Based on SSA records, 4% of people named Gayle are male and 96% are female.

When was Gayle most popular?

Gayle peaked in 1951 with 2,929 births that year. Current trend: Slowly declining.

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 US8,282
All-Time Births8,282
1 in X1 in 40,020
RarityRare
GenderFemale
Avg Age74
Peak Year1951
World Rank#7,014
Male %4%
Female %96%

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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.