Gage is a unisex given name of American origin, derived from an occupational surname meaning "lance bearer" or "maker of pointed weapons." It gained popularity as a given name in the latter half of the 20th century, particularly among parents seeking unique, one-syllable names for their children. Gage is often associated with the popular character Gaten Matarazzo's portrayal of Dustin Henderson in the Netflix series Stranger Things, which may have contributed to its recent rise in popularity. The name Gage does not have any specific pronunciation variations and is typically pronounced as /ˈɡeɪdʒ/. It shares a phonetic similarity with other names like Jade, Sage, and Page but has a distinct meaning rooted in weaponry and heraldry. In terms of popularity, Gage peaked at its highest rank in the United States in 2007, reaching number 361 for boys and 854 for girls. As of 2020, it ranks as the 892nd most popular name for boys and is not within the top 1000 names for girls in the U.S., indicating its status as a relatively uncommon but established given name option.
"The name Gage experienced varying popularity over the years, with a notable peak in 2004 and 2005, both seeing 14 and 16 births respectively. However, it appears that its popularity has been declining recently, with fewer than 10 births recorded annually since 2011."