The name Gayl is of Hebrew origin and means "joyous." It is a variant spelling of the name Gail, which itself is a short form of the name Gaiola or Gailla, both of which mean "joyful" in Hebrew.
The name Gayl has been used since at least the 19th century, although it was not particularly common during that time. However, it gained some popularity in the United States in the mid-20th century, with over 1,000 girls being named Gayl between 1940 and 1960.
One notable person with the name Gayl is Gayle King, an American television journalist who was born on December 28, 1955. She is best known for co-hosting the CBS morning show "CBS This Morning" from 2012 to 2021, and has also hosted her own interview program called "The Gayle King Show."
Overall, while the name Gayl may not be particularly common today, it has a rich history dating back centuries and has been carried by notable individuals throughout its existence. Its meaning of "joyous" makes it a popular choice for parents looking for a unique and meaningful name for their daughter.
Here are some interesting statistics about the name Gayl based on birth records in the United States:
* The name Gayl started to gain popularity around the late 1920s and early 1930s, with five births recorded each year between 1917 and 1931.
* In 1934, there was a notable increase in the number of births with the name Gayl, with ten babies being born that year. This trend continued into 1935 with eleven births recorded.
* The years 1936 to 1940 saw varying numbers of births for the name Gayl, ranging from eight to twelve each year.
* There was a significant peak in popularity between 1941 and 1947, with the highest number of births (24) recorded in 1947. This is the most popular decade for the name Gayl during this period.
* The 1950s saw a slight decrease in popularity, with numbers ranging from nine to forty-three births per year. The peak in this decade occurred in 1952 with forty-three births.
* Throughout the 1960s and early 1970s, the name Gayl became less common, with fewer than ten births recorded each year until it reached a low of five births in 1972.
* Despite its decline in popularity, there were still some years where more than five babies named Gayl were born. For example, eight births were recorded in 1973 and six in 1975.
In total, over the course of these years, there were 607 births recorded with the name Gayl in the United States. These statistics demonstrate how the popularity of the name Gayl has fluctuated over time but has remained present in American naming trends for several decades.