Gaia
Girl name · #1391 in 2025 · Uniqueness 65/100
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, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Gaia against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Gaia in class?
Gaia scores 65 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Gaia is most common
Geography matters for names, and Gaia is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Gaias were CA (24), NY (23), FL (17), TX (12), MA (9). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
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
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. It scores 65/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.