Gal
A male or female given name from Hebrew גַּל.
Every Gal since 1947 — 403 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Gal
Gal is rare for girls in the United States, ranked #9,673 in 2025 with 10 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1947, 403 American babies have been named Gal — about 63% girls and 37% boys, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 1996, when 21 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1990s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Gal stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Gal year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 10 | #9,673 | 5 | #12,648 |
| 2024 | 8 | #11,446 | — | — |
| 2023 | 12 | #8,642 | — | — |
| 2022 | 16 | #7,089 | — | — |
| 2021 | 13 | #8,185 | — | — |
| 2020 | 14 | #7,691 | — | — |
| 2019 | 7 | #12,901 | — | — |
| 2018 | 12 | #8,803 | — | — |
| 2017 | 9 | #11,002 | — | — |
| 2016 | — | — | — | — |
| 2015 | 6 | #15,136 | — | — |
| 2014 | — | — | — | — |
| 2013 | — | — | — | — |
| 2012 | — | — | — | — |
| 2011 | — | — | — | — |
| 2010 | — | — | — | — |
| 2009 | — | — | — | — |
| 2008 | — | — | — | — |
| 2007 | — | — | — | — |
| 2006 | — | — | 6 | #11,095 |
| 2005 | 5 | #17,343 | 12 | #6,356 |
| 2004 | — | — | — | — |
| 2003 | — | — | 9 | #7,445 |
| 2002 | 7 | #12,662 | 5 | #11,262 |
| 2001 | 10 | #9,621 | 5 | #11,132 |
| 2000 | 12 | #8,206 | 5 | #10,965 |
| 1995 | 14 | #6,371 | 5 | #9,323 |
| 1990 | — | — | 6 | #7,481 |
| 1985 | — | — | — | — |
| 1980 | — | — | — | — |
| 1975 | — | — | — | — |
| 1970 | — | — | — | — |
| 1965 | — | — | — | — |
| 1960 | — | — | — | — |
| 1955 | 5 | #6,151 | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — | — | — |
| 1945 | — | — | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — | — | — |
| 1935 | — | — | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — | — | — |
| 1925 | — | — | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — | — | — |
| 1915 | — | — | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
Famous people named Gal
- Gal Gadot Actor · b. 1985
- Gal Costa Singer · b. 1945
- Gaël Monfils Tennis player · b. 1986
- Gaël Clichy Soccer player · b. 1985
- Gaël Givet Soccer player · b. 1981
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Gal mean?
A male or female given name from Hebrew גַּל.
How popular is the name Gal in 2025?
Gal ranked #9,673 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 10 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Gal?
403 babies have been named Gal in the United States since 1947, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Gal most popular?
Gal peaked in 1996, when 21 newborns received the name.
Is Gal a boy or girl name?
Gal is used for both: about 63% of babies named Gal have been girls and 37% boys.
Is the name Gal rising or falling?
Gal is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Gal?
Well-known people named Gal include Gal Gadot (actor), Gal Costa (singer), Gaël Monfils (tennis player).