Gayle
Complete Name Analysis & Etymology Guide
66,309 Total Births
145 Years of Data
1951 Peak Popularity Year
2,929 Peak Births

Gayle Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis

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Summary

The name Gayle has its roots in Old English, meaning joyful or cheerful. It evolved from historical forms like Gael and Gail. The name is associated with positive traits and lacks biblical relevance. It gained popularity in the mid-20th century, and today it is seen as a classic name with a warm image.

Etymology & Cultural Background of "Gayle"

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Pronunciation

/ɡeɪl/

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Origin

Old English

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Etymology

The name Gayle is derived from the Old English word 'gael', which means 'joyful' or 'cheerful'. It is also considered a variant of the name Abigail, which has Hebrew origins.

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Meaning

joyful, cheerful

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Language Evolution

Gael, Gail, Gayle

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Historical Usage

The name Gayle became popular in the United States during the mid-20th century, particularly in the 1940s and 1950s.

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Variants & Derivatives

Gail, Gale, Gailene

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Modern Popularity & Image

Currently, Gayle is perceived as a classic yet somewhat vintage name, often associated with warmth and friendliness.

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Famous People

Gayle King - American television personality and journalist, Gayle Forman - American author, Gayle Hunnicutt - American actress

📊 Gayle Name Trend Analysis

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Boy Name Trend

Recent 3-Year Analysis

3-Year Trend: Stable
25-Year Trend: Relatively Stable
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Girl Name Trend

Recent 3-Year Analysis

3-Year Trend: Stable
25-Year Trend: Relatively Stable

Explore More Gayle Name Visualizations

✨ Gayle Name Meaning & Significance

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Popularity Trend

Highly Popular name with 2,929 peak births in 1951

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Geographic Spread

Popular across 51 US states, with strongest presence in Hawaii

Historical Span

Data spanning 145 years from 1880 to 2024, showing long-term trends

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Generational Impact

Influenced 12 different American generations with varying popularity

🔊 Same Pronunciation Names for "Gayle" - Complete Guide (5 Names)

Discover the ultimate list of homophone names and same pronunciation names that sound identical to "Gayle". 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 "Gayle" that fits your preferences.

Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Gayle"

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 "Gayle"

"Gayle" Popularity Across American Generations

Generation Gender Rank Total Names
G.I. Generation (1901-1927) Boy 908th of 7545 906
Silent Generation (1928-1945) Boy 534th of 6773 2,267
Baby Boomers (1946-1964) Boy 848th of 7552 1,473
Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) Boy 2468th of 10718 247
Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) Boy 8930th of 16616 44
G.I. Generation (1901-1927) Girl 761st of 9107 1,626
Silent Generation (1928-1945) Girl 255th of 9204 12,688
Baby Boomers (1946-1964) Girl 172nd of 12526 38,918
Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) Girl 487th of 19264 6,550
Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) Girl 1768th of 27321 1,202
Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) Girl 7832nd of 35406 226
Generation Alpha (2013-2024) Girl 13512th of 30306 69

Regional Popularity of "Gayle" by Generation for Male Names

TOP(%) MidWest Northeast South West
G.I. Generation
(1901-1927)
40.89%
579th/1416
91.44%
1261st/1379
41.12%
973rd/2366
85.99%
982nd/1142
Silent Generation
(1928-1945)
23.48%
363rd/1546
67.67%
1053rd/1556
25.24%
594th/2353
38.20%
591st/1547
Baby Boomers
(1946-1964)
27.39%
610th/2227
- 33.40%
953rd/2853
38.09%
1057th/2775
Generation X (Gen X)
(1965-1980)
60.98%
1791st/2937
- - -
Millennials (Gen Y)
(1981-1996)
- - - -
Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers)
(1997-2012)
- - - -
Generation Alpha
(2013-2024)
- - - -

Regional Popularity of "Gayle" by Generation for Female Names

TOP(%) MidWest Northeast South West
G.I. Generation
(1901-1927)
36.30%
514th/1416
52.50%
724th/1379
54.10%
1280th/2366
44.40%
507th/1142
Silent Generation
(1928-1945)
12.23%
189th/1546
16.84%
262nd/1556
13.17%
310th/2353
11.12%
172nd/1547
Baby Boomers
(1946-1964)
6.33%
141st/2227
7.61%
185th/2430
8.45%
241st/2853
5.15%
143rd/2775
Generation X (Gen X)
(1965-1980)
12.84%
377th/2937
12.17%
424th/3483
19.44%
684th/3518
12.66%
512th/4044
Millennials (Gen Y)
(1981-1996)
41.47%
1528th/3685
35.37%
1583rd/4475
46.88%
2435th/5194
31.55%
1993rd/6317
Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers)
(1997-2012)
- 100.00%
5164th/5164
- 100.00%
7463rd/7463
Generation Alpha
(2013-2024)
- - - -

State-by-State Popularity of "Gayle"

This map shows the relative popularity of "Gayle" 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 "Gayle" in the United States

The name Gayle is most popular in Hawaii, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Baby Boomers generation in the West 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, Gayle 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, 'Gayle' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 908th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 534th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 848th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 2468th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 8930th out of 16616 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 761st out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 255th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 172nd out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 487th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 1768th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 7832nd out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 13512th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Gayle' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.

Infographic: Gayle name meaning, origin, and popularity trends in the United States (US baby name analysis chart)
[600x500px image] Etymology and historical popularity of Gayle,