Gayla Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Gayla is an English name meaning joyful or happy. It evolved from the Old French word 'gai' through Middle English forms. The name's popularity rose in the mid-20th century and is often associated with a cheerful demeanor. It does not have biblical relevance.
The name Gayla is most popular in Oklahoma, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Baby Boomers generation in the South 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, Gayla has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Gayla' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 7201st out of 7552 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 6442nd out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 1111th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 486th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 828th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 3261st out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 11500th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 28476th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Gayla' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Gayla"
Pronunciation
/ˈɡeɪlə/
Origin
English
Etymology
The name Gayla is a modern variant derived from the name Gay, which itself comes from the Old French word 'gai,' meaning joyful or happy.
Meaning
joyful, happy
Language Evolution
Gai (Old French), Gay (Middle English), Gayla (Modern English)
Historical Usage
The name Gayla gained popularity in the United States during the mid-20th century, particularly in the 1940s and 1950s as a feminine name derived from Gay.
Variants & Derivatives
Gay, Gail, Gaila
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Gayla is perceived as a cheerful and light-hearted name, though it is less common in recent years.
Famous People
Gayla Peevey, an American singer and actress known for her hit song 'I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas.'
Explore More Gayla Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Gayla"
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 "Gayla"
"Gayla" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 7201st of 7552 | 6 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 6442nd of 9107 | 23 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 1111th of 9204 | 807 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 486th of 12526 | 6,735 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 828th of 19264 | 2,639 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 3261st of 27321 | 501 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 11500th of 35406 | 127 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 28476th of 30306 | 6 |
Regional Popularity of "Gayla" 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) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Gayla" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
61.00% 943rd/1546 |
- |
44.33% 1043rd/2353 |
62.12% 961st/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
19.40% 432nd/2227 |
57.45% 1396th/2430 |
15.00% 428th/2853 |
18.70% 519th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
26.22% 770th/2937 |
- |
16.94% 596th/3518 |
36.37% 1471st/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - |
44.82% 2328th/5194 |
100.00% 6317th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - |
100.00% 7313th/7313 |
- |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Gayla"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Gayla" 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.