Gael
Boy name · #86 in 2025 · Uniqueness 36/100
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, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Gael against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Gael in class?
Gael scores 36 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 Gael is most common
Geography matters for names, and Gael is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Gaels were CA (831), TX (775), FL (230), NY (176), IL (156). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
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.
AxelAdrielEzekielAmirKaiAzaelSilasMilo
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
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. It scores 36/100 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.