Baby Names US
girls' name ★ peaked 1989

Gao

Gender Girl Rank 2025 Below top lists
Rank 2025
–
among girls
Babies in 2025
<5
named Gao
How common
–
girls born in 2025
Peak year
1989
32 babies
All-time total
375
#14,062 all-time among girls
First recorded
1980
in Social Security records

Gao popularity over time

375 babies have been named Gao since 1980, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure
Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras
0.010.010.020.0218801900192019401960198020002020Peak 1989Girls

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade Girls Per year Change Best rank
1880s – – – –
1890s – – – –
1900s – – – –
1910s – – – –
1920s – – – –
1930s – – – –
1940s – – – –
1950s – – – –
1960s – – – –
1970s – – – –
1980s 132 13 – #3,279
1990s 204 20 +55% #3,472
2000s 39 4 -81% #11,678
2010s – – – –
2020s (to 2025) – – – –

The story of Gao

Gao 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 1980, 375 American babies have been named Gao. Its peak came in 1989, when 32 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1980s.

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 Gao stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Gao?

The median living Gao is about 33 years old; half are between 30 and 37. An estimated 400 people named Gao are alive in the United States today.

median 33 020406080100

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Gao year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year Girls Girls rank
2025 – –
2024 – –
2023 – –
2022 – –
2021 – –
2020 – –
2019 – –
2018 – –
2017 – –
2016 – –
2015 – –
2014 – –
2013 – –
2012 – –
2011 – –
2010 – –
2009 – –
2008 5 #18,454
2007 – –
2006 – –
2005 7 #13,484
2004 7 #13,216
2003 8 #11,678
2002 – –
2001 5 #16,179
2000 7 #12,228
1995 24 #4,259
1990 23 #4,282
1985 15 #4,920
1980 6 #9,457
1975 – –
1970 – –
1965 – –
1960 – –
1955 – –
1950 – –
1945 – –
1940 – –
1935 – –
1930 – –
1925 – –
1920 – –
1915 – –
1910 – –
1905 – –
1900 – –
1895 – –
1890 – –
1885 – –
1880 – –

Famous people named Gao

The most globally famous bearers of the name, ranked by fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

  1. 1 Gao Yuanyuan Gao Yuanyuan Chinese actress and model b. 1979 · Contemporary
  2. 2 Gao Xingjian Gao Xingjian Chinese novelist, critic, playwright and Nobel laureate b. 1940 · Contemporary
  3. 3 Gao Ling Gao Ling Chinese badminton player b. 1979 · Contemporary
  4. 4 Gao Shun General serving warlord Lü Bu (died 199) 200–199 · Antiquity
  5. 5 Gao Zhisheng Gao Zhisheng Chinese human rights lawyer b. 1964 · Contemporary
  6. 6 Gao Lin Gao Lin Chinese footballer (born 1986) Contemporary
  7. 7 Gao of Xia Gao of Xia King of the Xia dynasty Antiquity
  8. 8 Gao Hongbo Gao Hongbo Chinese footballer and manager b. 1966 · Contemporary
  9. 9 Gao Zhunyi Gao Zhunyi Chinese footballer b. 1995 · Contemporary
  10. 10 Gao Min Chinese diver b. 1970 · Contemporary
  11. 11 Gao Feng Chinese judoka (born 1982) Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Gao, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Gao?

The median living Gao is about 33 years old. Half of all living Gaos are between 30 and 37 years old.

How many people named Gao are alive today?

An estimated 400 people named Gao are alive in the United States, based on 375 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Gao in 2025?

Gao 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 Gao?

375 babies have been named Gao in the United States since 1980, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Gao most popular?

Gao peaked in 1989, when 32 newborns received the name.

Is Gao a boy or girl name?

Gao is overwhelmingly a girl's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Gao rising or falling?

Gao has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Who are famous people named Gao?

Well-known people named Gao include Gao Yuanyuan (actor), Gao Xingjian (writer), Gao Ling (badminton player).

Names like Gao

Names that sound and feel close to Gao: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Gao with similar names → More names starting with G →