Gala
Girl name · #2487 in 2025 · Uniqueness 54/100
Gala is currently the #2487 girl name in the United States — 71 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #3389, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 25,352 girls born in 2025 was named Gala.
Babies named Gala per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 106-year story
Gala first appears in the Social Security records in 1919, when 6 girls received the name. Its peak came in 1965, when 99 girls were named Gala — good for #1055 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. 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.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Gala against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Gala in class?
Gala scores 54 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 Gala is most common
Geography matters for names, and Gala is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Galas were TX (14), FL (13), CA (11), NY (6). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Gala
Statistically, parents drawn to Gala tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Gigi, Zena, Edie, Greta, and Twyla.
GigiZenaEdieGretaTwylaMoiraEnolaLuana
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Gala | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 71 | #2485 |
| 2024 | 82 | #2265 |
| 2023 | 70 | #2517 |
| 2022 | 60 | #2821 |
| 2021 | 46 | #3390 |
| 2020 | 45 | #3399 |
| 2019 | 51 | #3130 |
| 2018 | 39 | #3789 |
| 2017 | 52 | #3091 |
| 2016 | 55 | #3010 |
| 2015 | 47 | #3389 |
| 2014 | 41 | #3719 |
| 2013 | 67 | #2626 |
| 2012 | 65 | #2708 |
| 2011 | 24 | #5543 |
| 2010 | 19 | #6641 |
| 2009 | 16 | #7679 |
| 2008 | 13 | #8965 |
| 2007 | 13 | #9007 |
| 2006 | 11 | #9901 |
| 2005 | 12 | #8883 |
| 2004 | 16 | #7077 |
| 2003 | 8 | #11325 |
| 2002 | 7 | #12187 |
| 2001 | 16 | #6619 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Gala a popular girl name?
Gala ranked #2487 among girls in 2025 with 71 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #3389.
When was the name Gala most popular?
Gala peaked in 1965, when 99 American girls received the name (ranked #1055 that year). Since 1965 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Gala?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 25,352 newborn American girls was named Gala. It scores 54/100 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.