Emma Girl
EH-muh
“whole, universal” · Germanic
#3
Gail
GirlHebrew, English· “short form of Abigail, father's joy”
- Meaning
- short form of Abigail, father's joy
- Origin
- Hebrew, English
- Pronunciation
- GAYL
- Syllables
- 1
- US rank 2025
- #8,535
- US babies 2025
- 12
- Best rank
- #36 (1951)
- Peak year
- 1951
Meaning and origin of Gail
Gail is a Hebrew and English name that means “short form of Abigail, father's joy”.
Gail is a short form of Abigail, from the Hebrew Avigayil, often explained as my father is joy. In the Bible, Abigail is a wise woman who becomes the wife of David. Gail became a popular standalone name in the United States in the mid-twentieth century. It is said GAYL, one syllable. The name has a crisp, vintage character. Gale, the English word for a strong wind, sounds the same but is unrelated. It is uncommon today, which might appeal to parents who like short names.
Other spellings with the same sound: Gayle, Gael, Gale, Gaile.
Popularity over time
Gail first appears in US Social Security records in 1881. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 104 different years, starting in 1881. Its best national rank was #36 in 1951, the same year it reached its highest count of 9,886 babies. In 2025, 12 babies were named Gail, and it ranked #8,535 nationally. Its use has been fairly steady over the past decade.
Its national rank moved from #525 in 1920, #42 in 1950, #605 in 1980, #3,543 in 2000, #8,030 in 2010, and #8,535 in 2025. Of the 201,746 US girls named Gail since records began, 42% were born in the 1950s, its biggest decade. The 1940s come next, with 53,140 babies. Since 2010, 271 more have been named Gail.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Kathryn, Ellen, Marsha, Marcia, and Constance.
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Gail is usually pronounced GAYL, with one syllable. It has four letters, starts with G and ends in “-il”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Gayle, Gael, Gale, and Gaile.
Middle names for Gail
A few middle names that flow with Gail: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Gail
Similar names
Jane Girl
JAYN
“God is gracious” · English
#221
Ann Girl
AN
“grace, favor” · English
#1,076
Rae Girl
RAY
“ewe (short for Rachel)” · English
#1,306
Sue Girl
SOO
“short form of Susan, lily” · English
#9,387
Beth Girl
BEHTH
“short form of Elizabeth; Hebrew "house"” · Hebrew
#3,405
Joan Unisex
JOHN
“God is gracious” · English
#987
Abagail Girl
AB-uh-gayl
“my father is joy” · Hebrew
#7,889
Abigail Girl
A-buh-gayl
“my father is joy” · Hebrew
#41
April Girl
AY-pruhl
“the month of April” · Latin
#542
Joy Girl
JOY
“joy, happiness” · English
#419
Anne Girl
AN
“grace, favor” · French
#619
Joey Unisex
JOH-ee
“he will add; short for Joseph” · English
#877
Lists that include Gail
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Gail mean?
Gail is a Hebrew and English name that means “short form of Abigail, father's joy”.
What is the origin of the name Gail?
Gail has Hebrew and English roots. Gail is a short form of Abigail, from the Hebrew Avigayil, often explained as my father is joy.
Is Gail a popular name?
Not especially. Gail ranked #8,535 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Gail a boy or girl name?
Gail is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Gail?
Gail is usually pronounced GAYL. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings