Gayla: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

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	Boys	Total	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1890s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1900s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1910s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1920s	39	–	39	4	–	#3,229
1930s	320	–	320	32	+721%	#862
1940s	1,352	–	1,352	135	+322%	#483
1950s	3,917	–	3,917	392	+190%	#345
1960s	3,330	6	3,336	334	-15%	#456
1970s	1,200	–	1,200	120	-64%	#690
1980s	387	–	387	39	-68%	#2,062
1990s	221	–	221	22	-43%	#3,697
2000s	66	–	66	7	-70%	#7,891
2010s	6	–	6	1	-91%	#15,245
2020s (to 2025)	–	–	–	–	–	–

Decade

Girls

Boys

Total

Per year

Change

Best rank

1880s

–

1890s

–

1900s

–

1910s

–

1920s

–

#3,229

1930s

320

–

320

+721%

#862

1940s

1,352

–

1,352

135

+322%

#483

1950s

3,917

–

3,917

392

+190%

#345

1960s

3,330

3,336

334

-15%

#456

1970s

1,200

–

1,200

120

-64%

#690

1980s

387

–

387

-68%

#2,062

1990s

221

–

221

-43%

#3,697

2000s

–

-70%

#7,891

2010s

–

-91%

#15,245

2020s (to 2025)

–

The story of Gayla

Gayla 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 1921, 10,844 American babies have been named Gayla. Its peak came in 1954, when 617 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 Gayla stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Gayla?

The median living Gayla is about 65 years old; half are between 58 and 71. An estimated 9,100 people named Gayla are alive in the United States today.

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

Gayla 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	–	–	–	–
2024	–	–	–	–
2023	–	–	–	–
2022	–	–	–	–
2021	–	–	–	–
2020	–	–	–	–
2019	–	–	–	–
2018	–	–	–	–
2017	–	–	–	–
2016	–	–	–	–
2015	–	–	–	–
2014	6	#15,245	–	–
2013	–	–	–	–
2012	–	–	–	–
2011	–	–	–	–
2010	–	–	–	–
2009	–	–	–	–
2008	–	–	–	–
2007	5	#18,564	–	–
2006	8	#12,780	–	–
2005	5	#17,352	–	–
2004	9	#10,994	–	–
2003	6	#14,464	–	–
2002	8	#11,470	–	–
2001	13	#7,891	–	–
2000	12	#8,207	–	–
1995	29	#3,697	–	–
1990	25	#4,044	–	–
1985	31	#2,963	–	–
1980	46	#2,200	–	–
1975	103	#1,131	–	–
1970	227	#690	–	–
1965	333	#523	–	–
1960	399	#489	–	–
1955	432	#425	–	–
1950	237	#538	–	–
1945	88	#805	–	–
1940	58	#947	–	–
1935	25	#1,491	–	–
1930	6	#4,233	–	–
1925	–	–	–	–
1920	–	–	–	–
1915	–	–	–	–
1910	–	–	–	–
1905	–	–	–	–
1900	–	–	–	–
1895	–	–	–	–
1890	–	–	–	–
1885	–	–	–	–
1880	–	–	–	–

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Gayla?

The median living Gayla is about 65 years old. Half of all living Gaylas are between 58 and 71 years old.

How many people named Gayla are alive today?

An estimated 9,100 people named Gayla are alive in the United States, based on 10,844 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Gayla in 2025?

Gayla 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 Gayla?

10,844 babies have been named Gayla in the United States since 1921, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Gayla most popular?

Gayla peaked in 1954, when 617 newborns received the name.

Is Gayla a boy or girl name?

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

Is the name Gayla rising or falling?

Gayla is declining, less popular now than a decade ago.

Gayla

Gayla popularity over time

The story of Gayla

How old are people named Gayla?

Gayla year by year

Frequently asked questions

Names like Gayla