Gael Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Gael is a name with Celtic origins, meaning 'joyful' or 'generous.' It has evolved through various forms of Gaelic language. The name carries a positive connotation related to cultural heritage, and it gained popularity in the late 20th century. There are no significant biblical references associated with it.
The name Gael is most popular in Nevada, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Generation Alpha generation in the West region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is gaining popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been consistently rising. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Gael has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for female in MidWest, too falling for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, too falling for male in South, too falling for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been too falling for male in MidWest, stalled for female in MidWest, too falling for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, too falling for male in South, too falling for male in West. Across generations, 'Gael' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 6100th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 5062nd out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 4826th out of 7552 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 7482nd out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 399th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 139th out of 23106 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 3125th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 3000th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 9658th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 27321st out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 16178th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 10750th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Gael' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Gael"
Pronunciation
/ɡeɪl/
Origin
Celtic
Etymology
The name Gael derives from the Gaelic word 'Gael,' which refers to a member of the Gaelic-speaking people of Ireland and Scotland. It can also relate to the word 'gail,' meaning 'generous' or 'joyful.'
Meaning
joyful, generous
Language Evolution
Goidelic (Old Gaelic), Middle Gaelic, Modern Gaelic
Historical Usage
The name Gael gained popularity in the late 20th century, particularly as a given name in various cultures and as a symbol of Celtic identity.
Variants & Derivatives
Gail, Gaelle, Gaeil
Modern Popularity & Image
Gael is often associated with a strong cultural heritage and is viewed positively as a name representing Celtic roots and identity.
Famous People
Gael García Bernal, Gael Monfils
Explore More Gael Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Gael"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Gael"
"Gael" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 6100th of 7545 | 15 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 5062nd of 6773 | 23 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 4826th of 7552 | 38 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 7482nd of 16616 | 68 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 399th of 24088 | 11,071 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 139th of 23106 | 33,984 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 3125th of 9204 | 153 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 3000th of 12526 | 288 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 9658th of 19264 | 50 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 27321st of 27321 | 5 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 16178th of 35406 | 66 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 10750th of 30306 | 105 |
Regional Popularity of "Gael" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - |
56.72% 2946th/5194 |
51.43% 3249th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
13.16% 603rd/4582 |
14.21% 734th/5164 |
5.26% 385th/7313 |
3.89% 290th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
6.12% 244th/3984 |
4.46% 200th/4487 |
1.93% 132nd/6822 |
1.42% 89th/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Gael" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
100.00% 1546th/1546 |
- | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- |
72.51% 1762nd/2430 |
- | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Gael"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Gael" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.