Gayle
Gayle is a girl's name of English origin.
Meaning
Joyful, cheerful, or lively; also a diminutive of Abigail meaning 'my father is joy'.
Origin and history
Gayle is a variation of Gail or Gale, derived either from the Middle English word meaning cheerful and lively, or as a short form of Abigail. It gained significant popularity in the mid-20th century in the United States, though its usage for newborn girls has become rare in recent years. Today, it is recognized as a traditional and friendly classic.
Popularity in the United States
61,357 babies in the United States have been named Gayle since 1880. It ranks #522 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #2071.
States where it is most popular
- CA (10.1 %)
- OH (7.1 %)
- IL (7 %)
- NY (6.3 %)
- MI (6.1 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 70 |
| 1900-1910 | 121 |
| 1910-1920 | 716 |
| 1920-1930 | 1,025 |
| 1930-1940 | 5,034 |
| 1940-1950 | 16,198 |
| 1950-1960 | 23,727 |
| 1960-1970 | 10,117 |
| 1970-1980 | 2,707 |
| 1980-1990 | 1,056 |
| 1990-2000 | 369 |
| 2000-2010 | 130 |
| 2010-2019 | 57 |
| 2020-2029 | 30 |
Famous people named Gayle
- Gayle King: Journalist, Television Host
- Gayle Rubin: Anthropologist, Author
- Gayle Hunnicutt: Actress
Fun facts
- Gayle was most widely given to American girls during the 1940s and 1950s.
- The name evolved both as an independent vocabulary name meaning cheerful and as a truncated spelling of Abigail.