Gael
Boy name · #86 in 2025 · Well-known
How old is the name Gael? In official American birth records, Gael has been tracked continuously since 1919, giving it 106 years of documented American history.
Gael ranks #86 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 3,860 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #220, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 466 boys born in 2025 was named Gael.
The 106-year story
Gael first appears in the Social Security records in 1919, when 5 boys received the name. Its all-time peak is essentially right now: 2024, with 3,872 babies and a rank of #89. Names at their peak can keep climbing — or be one trend cycle from the long slide that eventually hits most popular names. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Gael per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Gael against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Gael in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Gael is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "well-known". A low score means broad familiarity: teachers will spell it right, and your child may share it with a classmate. For many families that's a feature, not a bug.
Where Gael is most common
Geography matters for names, and Gael is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Gael is most common in DE (4.8 per 1,000), CA (4.7 per 1,000), TX (4.4 per 1,000), NM (4.3 per 1,000), NV (4.2 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 2.6 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Gael is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Gael
Statistically, parents drawn to Gael tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Axel, Adriel, Ezekiel, Amir, and Kai.
AxelAdrielEzekielAmirKaiSilasMiloEnzo
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Gael | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3,860 | #86 |
| 2024 | 3,872 | #89 |
| 2023 | 3,629 | #100 |
| 2022 | 3,509 | #104 |
| 2021 | 3,513 | #109 |
| 2020 | 3,262 | #112 |
| 2019 | 2,900 | #133 |
| 2018 | 2,931 | #132 |
| 2017 | 2,239 | #178 |
| 2016 | 2,248 | #178 |
| 2015 | 1,783 | #220 |
| 2014 | 1,809 | #213 |
| 2013 | 2,307 | #177 |
| 2012 | 2,745 | #146 |
| 2011 | 690 | #410 |
| 2010 | 692 | #408 |
| 2009 | 1,003 | #318 |
| 2008 | 1,119 | #298 |
| 2007 | 1,168 | #296 |
| 2006 | 1,026 | #314 |
| 2005 | 1,102 | #297 |
| 2004 | 751 | #370 |
| 2003 | 443 | #526 |
| 2002 | 246 | #719 |
| 2001 | 47 | #2185 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Gael?
In official American birth records, the name Gael first appeared in 1919 (over 106 years ago), when 5 newborn boys received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 106 years.
Is Gael a popular boy name?
Gael ranked #86 among boys in 2025 with 3,860 babies given the name — firmly in the top 100, so yes, it’s a popular choice. Ten years earlier it ranked #220.
When was the name Gael most popular?
Gael peaked in 2024, when 3,872 American boys received the name (ranked #89 that year). That peak is current — the name is at or near its all-time high right now.
How rare is the name Gael?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 466 newborn American boys was named Gael. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "well-known".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.