Hale is an English name of Old Norse origin, derived from the word 'hálr', meaning 'sea'. It was introduced to England by Viking settlers and was later used as a surname before evolving into a given name in the 19th century. Hale has been used as a boy's name more often than a girl's, though it is unisex. Notable individuals with this name include American actor Hale Appleman and Canadian musician Hale, born Melissa Wolfe.
The name Hale experienced significant fluctuations in popularity over the past century and a half. With only five births recorded in 1892, it was quite uncommon at the time. The number of births peaked in 1917 with thirty births, followed by another peak in 2015 with twenty-two births. However, since then, the popularity of the name has decreased significantly, with only thirteen births recorded in 2023. Overall, there have been a total of 1255 births registered for the name Hale between 1892 and 2023.