Gael
Gael is a boy's name of Celtic origin.
Meaning
Gaelic person or speaker of Gaelic.
Origin and history
Gael is a name of Celtic Breton origin, traditionally understood to refer to a person of Gaelic descent or speaker of a Gaelic language. It gained widespread popularity in the Spanish-speaking world before becoming a mainstream favorite in the United States. In recent years, its usage in the U.S. has surged, making it a top 100 name for boys.
Popularity in the United States
49,079 babies in the United States have been named Gael since 1880. It ranks #517 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #96.
States where it is most popular
- TX (25.6 %)
- CA (24.9 %)
- IL (5.2 %)
- NY (4.5 %)
- AZ (4.1 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 5 |
| 1920-1930 | 10 |
| 1930-1940 | 23 |
| 1940-1950 | 30 |
| 1950-1960 | 8 |
| 1960-1970 | 0 |
| 1970-1980 | 0 |
| 1980-1990 | 6 |
| 1990-2000 | 97 |
| 2000-2010 | 6,911 |
| 2010-2019 | 20,344 |
| 2020-2029 | 21,645 |
Famous people named Gael
- Gael García Bernal: actor, director
- Gael Monfils: athlete, tennis player
Fun facts
- The name stems from the Breton linguistic tradition, historically linked to Celtic migration to Armorica.
- Gael entered the U.S. top 100 male names recently after decades of steady growth.