Gal
Gal is a name with multiple cultural origins: Hebrew, Slovene, Hungarian.
- Hebrew
- Slovene
- Hungarian
Meaning & Origin of Gal
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Gal is a name with multiple cultural origins: Hebrew, Slovene, Hungarian.
Origin data from Behind the Name .
Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)
- Hebrew
- Slovene
- Hungarian
The Story of Gal
As a girl name
The earliest SSA record of Gal as a girl name dates back to 1947, when 5 babies received it. 2022 was its biggest year on record, with 16 newborns named Gal — #6,978 in the national rankings. The 2020s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 31% of all recorded Gals. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #9,341 among girl names with 8 births, holding steady (-4%). In total, more than 262 Gals have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1940s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
The earliest SSA record of Gal as a boy name dates back to 1984, when 5 babies received it. 1996 was its biggest year on record, with 14 newborns named Gal — #4,395 in the national rankings. The 1990s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 59% of all recorded Gals. Its most recent appearance in the national data came in 2006 (6 births); the name has since faded from the published rankings. In total, more than 143 Gals have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1980s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Variants & Related Forms of Gal
Foreign forms, alternate spellings, and nicknames that share roots with Gal. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Names that sound like Gal
Phonetically similar names — useful when Gal 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 Gal
What does the name Gal mean?
What is the origin of the name Gal?
How popular is Gal in 2026?
When was Gal most popular?
In which U.S. states is Gal most popular?
Is Gal a unisex name?
What names go well with Gal?
What are nicknames or variants of Gal?
About the name Gal
Gal is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1947 and has accumulated 262 births in the dataset. Gal's peak popularity came in 2022 when it ranked #3,714. Use the chart and map above to compare Gal's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2022 →
- Names of the 2020s →
- Names starting with "G" →
- Browse all girl names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
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.