Unisex name · since 1893

Gale

Since 1893, U.S. Social Security records show 19,906 babies named Gale, peaking in 1957. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.

19,906
total births
1893–2023
years on record
1950s
peak decade
48%
born in that decade

19,906 girls have been named Gale since 1893, though it isn't currently a top-ranked name.

Social Security Administration records show Gale recorded 19,906 times among girls since 1893, though it doesn't currently rank among the most-used girls names, peaking in the 1950s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1893 to 2023.

  • 19,906 total births
  • 1893–2023 years on record
  • 1950s peak decade
  • 48% born in that decade

Data updated Jun 2026

The verdict

19,906 girls have been named Gale since 1893, peaking in the 1950s, last recorded in 2023.

19,906
total births
1893–2023
years on record
1950s
peak decade
48%
born in that decade
1950s
Peak decade

48% of everyone ever named Gale was born in this single decade.

1957
Single peak year

1,210 babies were named Gale in 1957 - its busiest year on record.

Gale's usage pattern, beyond the headline number

Divide Gale's SSA record in two at 1954 and the more recent half accounts for 51% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 49%, a genuinely balanced usage pattern. Its calmest year was 1893, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1957 peak of 1,210, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.

Gale at a glance

Last recorded 2023

Total births

19,906

Since 1893

131 years of records

Peak year

1957

1,210 births that year

Strongest decade: 1950s

Current rank

Unranked

Outside the modern top-1,000

As of 2023

Active since

1893

Recorded for 131 years

Last year on file: 2023

Gale popularity over time - girls

Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1893–2023

Last recorded 2023
Peak year (1957)
1,210
Annual births at peak, across 131 years of records
-50005001,0001,500 189319161929194219551968198119952023 5

Gale popularity over time - boys

12,437 total births recorded since 1883 (Gale as boys' name)

Unisex variant - 12,437 births
-1000100200300400 188319081924194019561972198820142025 13

Gale by decade

Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance

1950s was Gale's strongest decade.

9,479 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 48% of all-time use.

Gale births by decade

Total births in each ten-year window

births

What this shows Peak: 1950s at 9,479 births (48% of all-time use).

Source U.S. Social Security Administration · Baby Names As of June 2026

How Gale compares to similarly-sized names

Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 girls names closest to Gale's total volume

Gale vs 15 similarly-sized girls names

Gale vs 15 similarly-sized girls names Scatter plot of 16 data points. 0%5%10%15% 050100150200 New & already peakedOld name, single-era peakNew & still diversifyingLong history, steady all along Years in SSA records % of total births in the single peak year Gale
Gale vs 15 similarly-sized girls names

Gale by state

Where Gale concentrates geographically, total births since 1893

Geographically diffuse
Top 8 states by recorded births for the name Gale
Rank State Visual share Births Share of total
#1 New York
2,150 10.8%
#2 California
1,517 7.6%
#3 Pennsylvania
1,337 6.7%
#4 Illinois
1,240 6.2%
#5 Michigan
960 4.8%
#6 Ohio
941 4.7%
#7 New Jersey
826 4.1%
#8 Massachusetts
699 3.5%
New York share of Gale's total US births 10.8%
Even split

2,150 of 19,906 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 47 reporting states.

Gale appears in 47 states. Explore state details →

Frequently Asked Questions

How popular is the name Gale? ▼
19,906 babies have been named Gale since 1893. It was last recorded in 2023. The peak year was 1957 with 1,210 births.
When was Gale most popular? ▼
Gale was most popular in the 1950s decade with 9,479 total births. The single peak year was 1957.
Where is Gale most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Gale are New York (2,150 births), California (1,517 births), Pennsylvania (1,337 births).
Is Gale a unisex name? ▼
Yes, Gale is used for both boys and girls. As a girl's name it has 19,906 births, and as a boy's name it has 12,437 births.
How long has the name Gale been used? ▼
The SSA has tracked Gale since 1893 -- 131 years through the most recent 2023 data.
What names are similar to Gale? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Galilea, Gala, Galilee, Galia, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for girls.

What to do with Gale's data

  • Gale's decade-level peak was the 1950s (9,479 total births); usage has since declined to 5 in the 2020s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
  • New York records the most Gales (2,150 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. New York names
  • Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names

Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.

Keep exploring Gale

Nearby Names Like Gale

Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Gale

Galilea Girl
#642 9,309 births
Gala Girl
#2271 2,186 births
Galilee Girl
#3040 648 births
Galia Girl
#3713 594 births
Galen Girl
560 births

Compare Gale side by side: Gale vs Galilea Gale vs Gala Gale vs Galilee

Or pick any two names to compare →

Related Names

Names with a similar number of total births

Melina #630
19,926 births · Peak 2009
Christian #4392
19,875 births · Peak 1992
Kinley #618
19,959 births · Peak 2012
Maura #1812
19,965 births · Peak 1964
Susanna #1350
19,987 births · Peak 1958
Freya #160
19,821 births · Peak 2022
Magdalena #838
19,773 births · Peak 2007
Blake #210
20,065 births · Peak 2021

Data Sources

Data as of June 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).

According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.

Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1893–2023 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).

State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).

Cite this page

NameAlmanac Editorial. "Gale: Baby Name Since 1893 - 19,906 Births, Peak 1957." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/gale. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Gale draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.