Gail Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Gail is a name of Hebrew origin that means joy or rejoicing. It evolved from the Hebrew name 'Gai' and has seen usage primarily in English-speaking countries. The name is often associated with positive traits such as warmth and friendliness, although it does not have a biblical reference. Gail gained notable popularity in the mid-20th century and remains recognized today.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Gail"
Pronunciation
/ɡeɪl/
Origin
Hebrew
Etymology
The name Gail is derived from the Hebrew name 'Gai', meaning 'a father’s joy' or 'a joyous song'. It is often considered a feminine form of the name Abigail.
Meaning
joy, rejoicing
Language Evolution
Gai, Gail
Historical Usage
The name Gail gained popularity in English-speaking countries during the mid-20th century, particularly in the United States.
Variants & Derivatives
Gale, Gailie, Gaily
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, Gail is viewed as a classic and somewhat vintage name, often associated with warmth and friendliness.
Famous People
Gail Godwin, an American author, Gail Collins, an American journalist and author
📊 Gail Name Trend Analysis
Boy Name Trend
Recent 3-Year Analysis
Girl Name Trend
Recent 3-Year Analysis
Explore More Gail Name Visualizations
✨ Gail Name Meaning & Significance
Popularity Trend
Highly Popular name with 10,066 peak births in 1951
Geographic Spread
Popular across 51 US states, with strongest presence in Rhode Island
Historical Span
Data spanning 145 years from 1880 to 2024, showing long-term trends
Generational Impact
Influenced 12 different American generations with varying popularity
🔊 Same Pronunciation Names for "Gail" - Complete Guide (5 Names)
Discover the ultimate list of homophone names and same pronunciation names that sound identical to "Gail". These names share the same pronunciation but may have different spellings, offering alternative options for parents seeking similar-sounding names. Whether you're looking for American or British pronunciation variations, this comprehensive guide includes 5 carefully curated names that maintain the same phonetic sound.
Why explore same pronunciation names? Many parents search for homophone names to find alternative spellings that might be more unique or culturally significant. This ultimate list covers both American and British pronunciation patterns, ensuring you find the perfect variation of "Gail" that fits your preferences.
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Gail"
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 "Gail"
"Gail" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 486th of 7545 | 2,542 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 431st of 6773 | 3,381 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 668th of 7552 | 2,421 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 1742nd of 10718 | 425 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 7951st of 16616 | 59 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 558th of 9107 | 2,880 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 115th of 9204 | 42,041 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 58th of 12526 | 135,243 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 253rd of 19264 | 17,987 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 1102nd of 27321 | 2,464 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 4414th of 35406 | 491 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 6821st of 30306 | 208 |
Regional Popularity of "Gail" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
20.06% 284th/1416 |
40.97% 565th/1379 |
34.53% 817th/2366 |
33.01% 377th/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
17.66% 273rd/1546 |
32.39% 504th/1556 |
29.71% 699th/2353 |
20.75% 321st/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
18.81% 419th/2227 |
33.83% 822nd/2430 |
37.92% 1082nd/2853 |
24.65% 684th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
44.43% 1305th/2937 |
- | - |
48.64% 1967th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Gail" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
26.62% 377th/1416 |
33.14% 457th/1379 |
43.07% 1019th/2366 |
33.54% 383rd/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
7.18% 111th/1546 |
4.50% 70th/1556 |
8.63% 203rd/2353 |
5.88% 91st/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
2.83% 63rd/2227 |
1.28% 31st/2430 |
3.22% 92nd/2853 |
2.38% 66th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
7.22% 212th/2937 |
5.00% 174th/3483 |
9.01% 317th/3518 |
8.31% 336th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
23.31% 859th/3685 |
19.17% 858th/4475 |
28.76% 1494th/5194 |
21.02% 1328th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
85.27% 3907th/4582 |
54.12% 2795th/5164 |
- |
68.32% 5099th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- |
84.85% 3807th/4487 |
- |
100.00% 6276th/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Gail"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Gail" 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.
Comprehensive Regional & Generational Popularity Trends of "Gail" in the United States
The name Gail is most popular in Rhode Island, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Baby Boomers generation in the Northeast region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. 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, Gail has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for male in West, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for male in West, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Gail' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 486th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 431st out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 668th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 1742nd out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 7951st out of 16616 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 558th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 115th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 58th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 253rd out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 1102nd out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 4414th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 6821st out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Gail' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.