Where does the name Gail come from?

Gail is a girl name of Hebrew origin.

Is Gail a boy or a girl name?

Gail is used for both. In U.S. Social Security records, about 96% of children given the name Gail are girls and 4% are boys.

How popular is the name Gail in 2023?

Gail ranks #5818 for girls in the U.S. Social Security Administration's 2023 dataset. Its all-time U.S. peak was 1951 with 10,066 babies.

How do you pronounce Gail?

Gail is pronounced GAYL (1 syllable).

What are common spellings of Gail?

Gail is also written as Gayle, Gale.

A name from Hebrew · Girl

Gail

A short form of Abigail, from Hebrew Avigayil meaning 'my father's joy'. Independent as a given name from the 1930s; the biblical Abigail was the wise wife who became one of King David's queens.

Compare

Popularity over time

A 142-year arc in numbers.

201,717 U.S. births recorded from 1881–2023.

Popularity · 1881–2023

21 births in 2023

1881 1952 2023

Babies named per year Peak year Most recent

Meaning

A name that means something.

GA short form of Abigail, from Hebrew Avigayil meaning 'my father's joy'. Independent as a given name from the 1930s; the biblical Abigail was the wise wife who became one of King David's queens.

Variants & spellings

2 ways to spell "Gail".

Each transliteration carries a slightly different cultural fingerprint.

Gayle Most common Gale

Famous bearers

People who carry the name Gail.

G
Gail Sheehy (journalist and author of Passages)
G
Gayle King (broadcast journalist; variant)

Quick answers

People often ask about Gail.

What does the name Gail mean?: Gail means a short form of Abigail, from Hebrew Avigayil meaning 'my father's joy'. Independent as a given name from the 1930s; the biblical Abigail was the wise wife who became one of King David's queens.
Where does the name Gail come from?: Gail is a girl name of Hebrew origin.
Is Gail a boy or a girl name?: Gail is used for both. In U.S. Social Security records, about 96% of children given the name Gail are girls and 4% are boys.
How popular is the name Gail in 2023?: Gail ranks #5818 for girls in the U.S. Social Security Administration's 2023 dataset. Its all-time U.S. peak was 1951 with 10,066 babies.
How do you pronounce Gail?: Gail is pronounced GAYL (1 syllable).
What are common spellings of Gail?: Gail is also written as Gayle, Gale.

Similar names

If you love Gail, also consider…

James

Boy ·Hebrew

Supplanter; one who follows

Michael

#16

Boy ·Hebrew

Who is like God? A rhetorical name honoring the archangel

Mary

#133

Girl ·Hebrew

Bitter; beloved; wished-for child

God is my oath; consecrated to God

About this page

Popularity counts come from the U.S. Social Security Administration's national dataset. Meanings and origins are curated from etymological sources. If you spot an error, please let us know.