Total births
10,838
Girls' name · since 1921
Gayla
Gayla has 10,838 recorded births since 1921 in federal Social Security data, most heavily in 1954 -- full year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state rankings follow.
- 10,838
- total births
- 1921–2014
- years on record
- 1950s
- peak decade
- 36%
- born in that decade
10,838 girls have been named Gayla since 1921, though it isn't currently a top-ranked name.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Gayla has been recorded 10,838 times among girls since 1921, though it is not among the currently most-used girls names, with its heaviest use in the 1950s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1921 to 2014.
- 10,838 total births
- 1921–2014 years on record
- 1950s peak decade
- 36% born in that decade
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
10,838 girls have been named Gayla since 1921, peaking in the 1950s, last recorded in 2014.
- 10,838
- total births
- 1921–2014
- years on record
- 1950s
- peak decade
- 36%
- born in that decade
1950s
Peak decade
36% of everyone ever named Gayla was born in this single decade.
1954
Single peak year
617 babies were named Gayla in 1954 - its busiest year on record.
Gayla's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Gayla's SSA record in two at 1967 and the more recent half accounts for 24% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 76%, consistent with a name more common in the past than in recent years. Its calmest year was 2005, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1954 peak of 617, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Gayla at a glance
Last recorded 2014Peak year
1954
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1921
Gayla popularity over time - girls
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1921–2014
- Peak year (1954)
- 617
- Annual births at peak, across 94 years of records
Gayla popularity over time - boys
6 total births recorded since 1961 (Gayla as boys' name)
Gayla by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1950s was Gayla's strongest decade.
3,917 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 36% of all-time use.
Gayla births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1920s 39
1920s
39 births
- 1930s 320
1930s
320 births
- 1940s 1,352
1940s
1,352 births
- 1950s
1950s
3,917 births
- 1960s
1960s
3,330 births
- 1970s 1,200
1970s
1,200 births
- 1980s 387
1980s
387 births
- 1990s 221
1990s
221 births
- 2000s 66
2000s
66 births
- 2010s 6
2010s
6 births
What this shows Peak: 1950s at 3,917 births (36% of all-time use).
How Gayla 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 Gayla's total volume
Gayla vs 15 similarly-sized girls names
Gayla by state
Where Gayla concentrates geographically, total births since 1921
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Texas | | 1,665 | 15.4% |
| #2 | Oklahoma | | 1,049 | 9.7% |
| #3 | Illinois | | 609 | 5.6% |
| #4 | Missouri | | 579 | 5.3% |
| #5 | California | | 502 | 4.6% |
| #6 | Kansas | | 394 | 3.6% |
| #7 | Arkansas | | 328 | 3.0% |
| #8 | Ohio | | 265 | 2.4% |
Texas share of Gayla's total US births 15.4%
Even split
1,665 of 10,838 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 38 reporting states.
Gayla appears in 38 states. Explore state details →
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Gayla? ▼
Since 1921, Social Security records show 10,838 babies named Gayla. The most recent recorded year was 2014. Its busiest year on record was 1954, with 617 births.
When was Gayla most popular? ▼
Gayla was most popular in the 1950s decade with 3,917 total births. The single peak year was 1954.
Where is Gayla most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Gayla are Texas (1,665 births), Oklahoma (1,049 births), Illinois (609 births).
How long has the name Gayla been used? ▼
Gayla has been recorded in Social Security data since 1921, spanning 94 years of data through 2014.
What names are similar to Gayla? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Gayle, Gay, Gaye, Gaynell, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for girls.
What to do with Gayla's data
- Gayla's decade-level peak was the 1950s (3,917 total births); usage has since declined to 6 in the 2010s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- Texas records the most Gaylas (1,665 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Texas 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 Gayla
Nearby Names Like Gayla
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Gayla
Gayle Girl
#13518 61,357 births
Gay Girl
17,985 births
Gaye Girl
5,746 births
Gaynell Girl
4,251 births
Gaylene Girl
2,570 births
Compare Gayla side by side: Gayla vs Gayle Gayla vs Gay Gayla vs Gaye
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Cayla #3841
10,853 births · Peak 1999
Amirah #464
10,863 births · Peak 2024
Karly #2573
10,866 births · Peak 1993
Freida #7264
10,794 births · Peak 1947
Emory #333
10,792 births · Peak 2024
Lacie #2981
10,789 births · Peak 1989
Collins #257
10,779 births · Peak 2025
Nikita #4404
10,778 births · Peak 1986
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, 1921–2014 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Gayla: Baby Name Since 1921 - 10,838 Births, Peak 1954." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/gayla. 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 Gayla 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.