Gaia
Girl name · #1391 in 2025 · Rare
How old is the name Gaia? In official American birth records, Gaia has been tracked continuously since 1980, giving it 45 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 157 baby girls were named Gaia, placing it at #1391 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #2103, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 11,465 girls born in 2025 was named Gaia.
The 45-year story
Gaia first appears in the Social Security records in 1980, when 6 girls received the name. Its all-time peak is essentially right now: 2023, with 219 babies and a rank of #1120. 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 Gaia per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Gaia against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Gaia in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Gaia is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Gaia will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Gaia is most common
Geography matters for names, and Gaia is no exception. Adjusted for how many girls are born in each state, Gaia is most common in NY (0.3 per 1,000), FL (0.2 per 1,000), CA (0.1 per 1,000), TX (0.1 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.1 per 1,000 girls. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Gaia is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Gaia
Statistically, parents drawn to Gaia tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Naia, Laia, Caia, Zaia, and Amaia.
NaiaLaiaCaiaZaiaAmaiaGiuliaAdaiaAnaia
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Gaia | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 157 | #1388 |
| 2024 | 212 | #1140 |
| 2023 | 219 | #1120 |
| 2022 | 198 | #1220 |
| 2021 | 191 | #1229 |
| 2020 | 156 | #1398 |
| 2019 | 136 | #1569 |
| 2018 | 117 | #1748 |
| 2017 | 90 | #2129 |
| 2016 | 98 | #2017 |
| 2015 | 92 | #2103 |
| 2014 | 73 | #2469 |
| 2013 | 57 | #2936 |
| 2012 | 75 | #2449 |
| 2011 | 54 | #3092 |
| 2010 | 44 | #3572 |
| 2009 | 47 | #3460 |
| 2008 | 42 | #3779 |
| 2007 | 47 | #3482 |
| 2006 | 31 | #4576 |
| 2005 | 34 | #4118 |
| 2004 | 26 | #4949 |
| 2003 | 32 | #4109 |
| 2002 | 18 | #6129 |
| 2001 | 27 | #4447 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Gaia?
In official American birth records, the name Gaia first appeared in 1980 (over 45 years ago), when 6 newborn girls received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 45 years.
Is Gaia a popular girl name?
Gaia ranked #1391 among girls in 2025 with 157 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #2103.
When was the name Gaia most popular?
Gaia peaked in 2023, when 219 American girls received the name (ranked #1120 that year). That peak is current — the name is at or near its all-time high right now.
How rare is the name Gaia?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 11,465 newborn American girls was named Gaia. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.