Girl · #1,072 in 2026

Gaia

In Greek mythology, Gaia, also spelled Gaea, is the personification of Earth. She is the mother of Uranus (Sky), with whom she conceived the Titans, the Cyclopes, and the Giants, as well as of Pontus (Sea), from whose union she bore the primordial sea gods. Her equivalent in the Roman pantheon was Terra.

Current Rank
#1,072
Peak Rank
#1,072 (2026)
Total Babies
3K
5-Yr Trend
+56%
1980
First Year
2026
Last Year
2026
Peak Year
#1072
Peak Rank
3K
Total Count
42
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Gaia

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

In Greek mythology, Gaia, also spelled Gaea, is the personification of Earth. She is the mother of Uranus (Sky), with whom she conceived the Titans, the Cyclopes, and the Giants, as well as of Pontus (Sea), from whose union she bore the primordial sea gods. Her equivalent in the Roman pantheon was Terra.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

Etymology
The Greek name Γαῖα ( Gaia .mw-parser-output .IPA-label-small{font-size:85%}.mw-parser-output .references .IPA-label-small,.mw-parser-output .infobox .IPA-label-small,.mw-parser-output .navbox .IPA-label-small{font-size:100%} Ancient Greek : [ ɡâi̯.a ] or [ ɡâj.ja ] ) is a mostly epic, collateral form of Attic Γῆ ( Gē [ ɡɛ̂ː ] ), and Doric Γᾶ ( Ga [ ɡâː ] ), perhaps identical to Δᾶ ( Da [ dâː ] ), both meaning " Earth ". Some scholars believe that the word is of uncertain origin. Beekes suggested a probable Pre-Greek origin. M.L. West derives the name from the Indo-European form *dʰéǵʰōm (eart

The Story of Gaia

Gaia first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby girl name in 1980, with 6 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2026, when 229 Gaias were born — ranking #1,072 that year. As of 2026, Gaia ranks #1,072 for baby girls with 229 births, rising sharply (+56% over the past five years). In total, more than 3K Gaias have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1980s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

ME
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VT
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MA
OR
ID
SD
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OH
PA
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NE
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VA
MD
DE
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Top 10
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No data

Names that sound like Gaia

Phonetically similar names — useful when Gaia is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Gaia

What does the name Gaia mean?
In Greek mythology, Gaia, also spelled Gaea, is the personification of Earth. She is the mother of Uranus (Sky), with whom she conceived the Titans, the Cyclopes, and the Giants, as well as of Pontus (Sea), from whose union she bore the primordial sea gods. Her equivalent in the Roman pantheon was Terra.
How popular is Gaia in 2026?
In 2026, Gaia ranks #1,072 among girls' names in the U.S., with 229 babies given the name that year.
When was Gaia most popular?
Gaia reached its peak popularity in 2026, ranking #1,072 that year with 229 babies given the name.
In which U.S. states is Gaia most popular?
Gaia has historically been most popular in Puerto Rico, Nevada, Connecticut. Rankings vary year to year, but these states show the strongest concentration of births named Gaia.
Is Gaia a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Gaia is primarily a girl's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a boy's name.
What names go well with Gaia?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Gaia include Olevia, Mertie, Ernest. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

Similar Names

👧
Olevia
Peak #1072
👧
Mertie
Peak #1073
👧
Ernest
Peak #1071
👧
Elicia
Peak #1071
👧
Jackelyn
Peak #1073
👧
Yaretzy
Peak #1073
👧
Drusilla
Peak #1074
👧
Alona
Peak #1070

About the name Gaia

Gaia is a girl baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1980 and has accumulated 3K births in the dataset. Gaia's peak popularity came in 2026 when it ranked #1,072. Use the chart and map above to compare Gaia's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

Data sources

  • Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
  • Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
  • Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
  • Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
  • Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .

Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.