Gale
Every Gale since 1883 — 32,343 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Gale
Gale is not currently in use for newborns in the United States — fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.
Since 1883, 32,343 American babies have been named Gale — about 62% girls and 38% boys, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 1957, when 1,364 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1950s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Gale stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Gale year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | — | — | 13 | #6,581 |
| 2024 | — | — | 13 | #6,583 |
| 2023 | 5 | #15,986 | 15 | #6,028 |
| 2022 | — | — | 6 | #11,327 |
| 2021 | — | — | — | — |
| 2020 | — | — | 7 | #9,904 |
| 2019 | 7 | #12,902 | 7 | #10,094 |
| 2018 | — | — | 14 | #6,136 |
| 2017 | 5 | #16,709 | 10 | #7,773 |
| 2016 | — | — | 8 | #9,120 |
| 2015 | — | — | 8 | #9,016 |
| 2014 | — | — | 9 | #8,364 |
| 2013 | 6 | #15,257 | 8 | #9,064 |
| 2012 | — | — | — | — |
| 2011 | 6 | #15,470 | — | — |
| 2010 | — | — | — | — |
| 2009 | — | — | — | — |
| 2008 | — | — | 5 | #13,177 |
| 2007 | — | — | 7 | #10,127 |
| 2006 | — | — | — | — |
| 2005 | 8 | #12,208 | 5 | #12,027 |
| 2004 | — | — | — | — |
| 2003 | — | — | 7 | #8,979 |
| 2002 | — | — | 5 | #11,263 |
| 2001 | — | — | — | — |
| 2000 | 5 | #15,860 | 8 | #7,692 |
| 1995 | 7 | #10,897 | — | — |
| 1990 | 11 | #7,483 | 8 | #6,027 |
| 1985 | 21 | #3,894 | 11 | #3,888 |
| 1980 | 31 | #2,890 | 19 | #2,571 |
| 1975 | 56 | #1,692 | 31 | #1,642 |
| 1970 | 128 | #981 | 53 | #1,136 |
| 1965 | 234 | #640 | 81 | #821 |
| 1960 | 587 | #393 | 129 | #691 |
| 1955 | 1,030 | #260 | 199 | #517 |
| 1950 | 662 | #301 | 333 | #372 |
| 1945 | 447 | #321 | 287 | #352 |
| 1940 | 389 | #323 | 307 | #323 |
| 1935 | 122 | #587 | 244 | #351 |
| 1930 | 29 | #1,444 | 199 | #419 |
| 1925 | 29 | #1,547 | 190 | #435 |
| 1920 | 35 | #1,325 | 176 | #457 |
| 1915 | 23 | #1,541 | 104 | #552 |
| 1910 | 7 | #2,009 | 12 | #948 |
| 1905 | 7 | #1,591 | 11 | #761 |
| 1900 | 10 | #1,262 | 10 | #865 |
| 1895 | — | — | 6 | #1,017 |
| 1890 | — | — | 5 | #1,057 |
| 1885 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
Famous people named Gale
- Gale Sondergaard Actor · 1899–1985
- Gale Anne Hurd Producer · b. 1955
- Gale Harold Actor · b. 1969
- Gale Storm Actor · 1922–2009
- Gale Norton Politician · b. 1954
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
How popular is the name Gale in 2025?
Gale did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.
How many people are named Gale?
32,343 babies have been named Gale in the United States since 1883, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Gale most popular?
Gale peaked in 1957, when 1,364 newborns received the name.
Is Gale a boy or girl name?
Gale is used for both: about 62% of babies named Gale have been girls and 38% boys.
Is the name Gale rising or falling?
Gale has been roughly stable over the past decade.
Who are famous people named Gale?
Well-known people named Gale include Gale Sondergaard (actor), Gale Anne Hurd (producer), Gale Harold (actor).