Gail

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Gail

Gender: Feminine
Language: English
Etymology:
Gail is short for Abigail, the modern English form of a Hebrew name. Originally it meant “Father Rejoices.”

History:
Gail, a diminutive for Abigail, became highly popular in its own right, even when Abigail itself was almost unknown.
Please see Abigail for more information.

Pronunciation: gail

Alternates: Gaila, Gaile, Gale, Gayla, Gayle.

Famous Bearers:
Artists and Authors:
Gail Godwin (1937-)
American author.

Miscellaneous:
Gail Devers (1966-)
American athlete.

Popularity:
Percentage from the 1990 U.S. Census:
0.145 % named Gail
0.043 % named Gayle
0.016 % named Gale
0.008 % named Gayla

Popularity of Gail:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1910: 656th most popular.
1910-1920: 610th most popular.
1920-1930: 556th most popular.
1930-1940: 140th most popular.
1940-1950: 52nd most popular.
1950-1960: 43rd most popular.
1960-1970: 123rd most popular.
1970-1980: 349th most popular.
1980-1990: 760th most popular.
1990-2000: N/A

Popularity of Gayle:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1910: 899th most popular.
1910-1920: 762nd most popular.
1920-1930: 733rd most popular.
1930-1940: 267th most popular.
1940-1950: 164th most popular.
1950-1960: 158th most popular.
1960-1970: 281st most popular.
1970-1980: 578th most popular.
1980-2000: N/A

Popularity of Gale:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1930: N/A
1930-1940: 741st most popular.
1940-1950: 311th most popular.
1950-1960: 300th most popular.
1960-1970: 600th most popular.
1970-2000: N/A

Popularity of Gayla:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1940: N/A
1940-1950: 749th most popular.
1950-1960: 493rd most popular.
1960-1970: 559th most popular.
1970-2000:N/A