How popular is the baby name Gail in the United States right now? How popular was it historically? Find out using the graph below! Plus, check out all the blog posts that mention the name Gail.
Want a rare girl name with a retro feel?
Here's a list of uncommon, feminine O-names associated with the earliest decades of cinema.
For those that saw enough usage to register in the national data set, I've included links to the popularity graphs.
O Yama was a character played by actress Florence Lawrence in the short film The Heart of O Yama (1908).
Oceola was a character played by actress Dolly Larkin in the film Her Atonement (1913).
Usage of the baby name Oceola (which debuted in the data in 1913).
Odile was a character name in the films The Rat (1925) and The Rat (1937), both of which were based upon the same stage play.
Usage of the baby name Odile.
Ohati was a character played by actress Anna May Wong in the film A Trip to Chinatown (1926).
Princess Ojira was a character played by actress Helen Gardner in the film A Princess of Bagdad (1913).
Queen Okalana was a character played by actress Anne Revere in the film Rainbow Island (1944).
Ola Humphrey was an actress who appeared in films in the 1910s. She was born in California in 1874. Her birth name was Pearl Ola Jane Humphrey. Ola was also a character played by actress Lucy Fox in the film What Fools Men Are (1922).
Usage of the baby name Ola.
Olago was a character played by actress Sarah Padden in the film Man of Two Worlds (1934).
Olala Ussan was a character played by actress Billie Dove in the film The Thrill Chaser (1923).
Olalla was a character name in the films The Wandering Jew (1923) and The Wandering Jew (1933), both of which were based upon the same stage play.
O-Lan was a character played by actress Luise Rainer in the film The Good Earth (1937), which was based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning book of the same name by Pearl S. Buck. Rainer won the Academy Award for Best Actress in 1937 for playing O-Lan.
Olana was a character played by actress Marie Walcamp in the short film Olana of the South Seas (1914).
Usage of the baby name Olana.
Oleander Tubbs was a character played by actress Helen Chandler in the film Mr. Boggs Steps Out (1938).
Olette was a character played by actress Peggy Hyland in the film The Sixteenth Wife (1917).
Olivetta was a character name in multiple films, including The Long Arm of the Law (short, 1911) and 13 Washington Square (1928).
Olivette was a character played by actress Olive Borden in the film The Monkey Talks (1927).
Usage of the baby name Olivette.
Ollante was a character played by actress Dorothy Dalton in the film The Jungle Child (1916).
Olympe Bradna was an actress who appeared in films from the 1930s to the 1940s. She was born in France in 1920. Her birth name was Antoinette Olympe Bradna. Olympe was also a character name in multiple films, including New Lives for Old (1925) and Camille (1936).
Oma Tuthill was a character played by actress Mayre Hall in the film The Battle of Ballots (1915).
Usage of the baby name Oma.
Ona Munson was an actress who appeared in films from the 1920s to the 1950s. She was born in Oregon in 1903. Her birth name was Owena Elizabeth Wolcott. Ona was also a character played by actress Gail Kane in the film The Jungle (1914).
Usage of the baby name Ona.
Onda was a character played by actress Marie Walcamp in the short film Onda of the Orient (1916).
Usage of the baby name Onda.
Oneta was a character played by actress Anna May Wong in the film The Desert's Toll (1926).
Usage of the baby name Oneta.
Ora Carew was an actress who appeared in films from the 1910s to the 1920s. She was born in Utah in 1893. Ora was also a character name in multiple films, including Sparrow of the Circus (short, 1914) and Her Supreme Sacrifice (short, 1915).
Usage of the baby name Ora.
Orchid was a character name in multiple films, including Fine Manners (1926), starring Gloria Swanson, and Gangs of New York (1938).
Usage of the baby name Orchid (which debuted in the data in 1926).
Oriole Hartley was a character played by actress Nanci Price in the film The Girl in the Show (1929).
Usage of the baby name Oriole.
Orlean was a character played by actress Evelyn Preer in the film The Homesteader (1919).
Usage of the baby name Orlean.
Ormi Hawley was an actress who appeared in films in the 1910s. She was born in Massachusetts in 1889. Her birth name was Ormetta Grace Hawley.
Usage of the baby name Ormi (which debuted in the data in 1916).
Orry Baxter was a character played by actress Jane Wyman in the film The Yearling (1946).
Usage of the baby name Orry.
Osa Massen was an actress who appeared in films from the 1930s to the 1950s. She was born in Denmark in 1914. Her birth name was Aase Iverson Madsen.
Usage of the baby name Osa.
Osprey Bacchus was a character played by actress Helen Jerome Eddy in the film A Very Good Young Man (1919).
Ottilie Van Zandt was a character played by actress Ethel Shannon in the film Maytime (1923).
Usage of the baby name Ottilie.
Ottima was a character played by actress Marion Leonard in the short film Pippa Passes; or, The Song of Conscience (1909).
Ottola Nesmith was an actress who appeared in films from the 1910s to the 1960s. She was born in Washington, D.C., in 1889. She was named after her father, Capt. Otto Nesmith.
Ouida Bergère was an actress who appeared in films in the 1910s. She was born in 1886. Her birth name was Eunie Branch. The name Ouida was invented by English author Ouida (b. 1839), whose birth name was Marie Louise Ramé.
Usage of the baby name Ouida.
Oulaid was a character played by actress Mary Alden in the film The Tents of Allah (1923).
Owanono was a character played by actress Tsuru Aoki in the short film Desert Thieves (1914).
Ozma was a character name in multiple films, including The Fairylogue and Radio-Plays (1908) and The Patchwork Girl of Oz (1914).
Here's the next installment of rare female names used by either the actresses or characters in very old films (1910s, 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s).
Paducah Pomeroy was a character played by actress Aileen Pringle in the film Piccadilly Jim (1936).
Debra Paget was an actress who appeared in films from the 1940s to the 1960s. She was born in Colorado in 1933. Her birth name was Debralee Griffin.
Usage of the baby name Paget.
Palma May was a character played by actress Irene Castle in the film French Heels (1922).
Usage of the baby name Palma.
Palola was a character played by actress Hilo Hattie in the film Song of the Islands (1942).
Panama Smith was a character played by actress Gladys George in the film The Roaring Twenties (1939).
Panca was a character played by actress Linda Arvidson in the short film The Stampede (1916).
Pancha O'Brien was a character played by actress Geraldine Farrar in the film The Hell Cat (1918).
Panchita was a character played by actress Conchita Montenegro in the film Laughing at Life (1933).
Usage of the baby name Panchita.
Pandora La Croix was a character played by actress Viola Dana in the film As Man Desires (1925).
Usage of the baby name Pandora.
Panthea Romoff was a character played by actress Norma Talmadge in the film Panthea (1917).
Usage of the baby name Panthea.
Papela was a character played by actress Gail Kenton in the film The Lure of the South Seas (1929).
Papeta was a character played by actress Anne Schaefer in the short film The Prayers of Manuelo (1912).
Papinta was a character played by actress Bessie Eyton in the short film The Little Organ Player of San Juan (1912).
Papita was a character played by the actress Clara Williams in the short film Papita's Destiny (1913).
Parete was a character played by actress Dagmar Godowsky in the film The Altar Stairs (1922).
Parisette was a character played by actress Sandra Milovanoff in the film Parisette (1921).
Parola was a character played by actress Helen Ware in the film Fascination (1922).
Parthenia was a character name in multiple films, including Ingomar, The Barbarian (1908) and Show Boat (1929).
Usage of the baby name Parthenia.
Pasqualina Carmetto was a character played by actress Mary Fuller in the short film Tony's Oath of Vengeance (1912).
Usage of the baby name Pasqualina.
Patria Channing was a character played by actress Irene Castle in the film Patria (1917).
Usage of the baby name Patria (which saw an uptick in usage in 1917).
Patta Heberton was a character played by actress May Allison in the film The Come-Back (1916).
Patterson Dial was an actress who appeared in films from the 1910s to the 1920s. She was born in Florida in 1902. Her birth name was Elizabeth Patterson Dial.
Usage of the baby name Patterson.
Peaches Jackson was an actress who appeared in films from the 1910s to the 1930s. She was born in New York in 1913. Her birth name was Charlotte Jackson. Peaches was also a character played by actress May West in the film Every Day's a Holiday (1937).
Usage of the baby name Peaches.
Peavey was a character played by actress Olive Borden in the film Leave It to Me (1933).
Peg Entwistle was an actress who appeared in one film in 1932 (and, the same year, committed suicide by jumping off the H of the Hollywoodland sign). She was born in Wales in 1908. Her birth name was Millicent Lilian Entwistle. Peg was also a character played by actress Anna Neagle in the film Peg of Old Drury (1935).
Usage of the baby name Peg.
Pegeen O'Barry was a character played by actress Pauline Starke in the film Irish Eyes (1918).
Usage of the baby name Pegeen.
Peggie Hurst was a character played by actress Chrissie White in the film A Temporary Vagabond (1920).
Usage of the baby name Peggie.
Peggy Pearce (born a Velma) was an actress who appeared in films from the 1910s to the 1920s. She was born in California in 1894. Peggy Cartwright was an actress who appeared in films from the 1910s to the 1930s. She was born in Canada in 1912. Peggy Moran (Mary) was an actress who appeared in films from the 1930s to the 1940s. She was born in Iowa in 1918. Peggy Ryan (Margaret) was an actress who appeared in films from the 1930s to the 1940s. She was born in California in 1924. Finally, Peggy was also a character name in multiple films including Peggy Lynn, Burglar (short 1915) and Confessions of a Co-Ed (1931).
Usage of the baby name Peggy.
Pelagia Walewska was a character played by actress Maria Ouspenskaya in the film Conquest (1937).
Usage of the baby name Pelagia.
Pendola Molloy was a character played by actress Karen Morley in the film Gabriel Over the White House (1933).
Pénélopeia was a character played by actress Conchita Montenegro in the film Lumières de Paris (1938).
Peola was a character played by actress Fredi Wasghington in the film Imitation of Life (1934).
Usage of the baby name Peola (which saw an uptick in usage in 1935).
Pepita was a character name in multiple films, including The Street Singer (1912) and The Pretty Sister of Jose (1915).
Peppina was a character played by actress Mary Pickford in the film Poor Little Peppina (1916).
Peppy Gilman was a character played by actress Dorothy Burgess in the film I Want a Divorce (1940).
Perdita was a character name in multiple films, including In Old California (short, 1910) and The Demon (1918).
Periwinkle was a character played by actress Mary Miles Minter in the film Periwinkle (1917).
Perka was a character played by actress Georgia Fursman in the film The Seven Sisters (1915).
Perpetua was a character name in multiple films, including The Arrival of Perpetua (1915) and Love's Boomerang (1922).
Usage of the baby name Perpetua.
Perrette was a character played by actress Simone Vaudry in the film Fanfan la Tulipe (1925).
Persis was a character played by actress Mary Treen in the film The Great Man's Lady (1942).
Usage of the baby name Persis.
Pert Kelton was an actress who appeared in films from the 1920s to the 1960s. She was born in Montana in 1907. Pert was also a character name in multiple films, including Danger! Women at Work (1943) and Take It Big (1944).
Pervaneh was a character played by actress Greta Nissen in the film The Lady of the Harem (1926).
Petal Schultze was a character played by actress Amy Veness in the film Red Wagon (1933).
Usage of the baby name Petal.
Petaluma was a character played by actress Vivian Rich in the short film A Blowout at Santa Banana (1914).
Petrie was a character played by actress Claire Du Brey in the film Oh, What a Night! (1944).
Petrina Faneuil was a character played by actress Pauline Frederick in the film Let Not Man Put Assunder (1924).
Usage of the baby name Petrina.
Petronell was a character played by actress Helen "Bunty" Payne in the film The Farmer's Wife (1941).
Pette San was a character played by actress Mary Fuller in the short film An Almond-Eyed Maid (1913).
Pettie Wilson was a character played by actress Gwen Lee in the film The Boy Friend (1926).
Pheasant Vaughan Whiteoak was a character played by actress Molly Lamont in the film Jalna (1935).
Phemie was a character name in multiple films, including The Man Hater (1917) and La Bohème (1926).
Philena Mortimer was a character played by actress Helene Chadwick in the film From the Ground Up (1921).
Usage of the baby name Philena.
Philine was a character played by actress Xenia Desni in the film Pariserinnen (1921).
Phillipa was a character name in multiple films, including The Flash of an Emerald (1915) and Risky Business (1920).
Usage of the baby name Phillipa.
Sophronia "Phronsie" Pepper was a character played by actress Dorothy Ann Seese in the four Five Little Peppers films of 1939 and 1940.
Usage of the baby name Phronsie (which debuted in the data the year most of the films came out).
Phroso was a character played by actress Malvina Longfellow in the film Possession (1922).
Phyl was a character played by actress Margaret Perry in the film New Morals for Old (1932).
Phyliss was a character name in multiple films, including Broadway Billy (1926) and Pleasures of the Rich (1926).
Usage of the baby name Phyliss.
Phyllis Gordon was an actress who appeared in films from the 1910s to the 1940s. She was born in Virginia in 1889. Phyllis Haver was an actress who appeared in films from the 1910s to the 1930s. She was born in Kansas in 1899. Phyllis Thaxter was an actress who appeared in films from the 1940s to the 1970s. She was born in Maine in 1919. Finally, Phyllis was also a character name in multiple films, including Just Like a Woman (short, 1915) and Wagons Westward (1940).
Usage of the baby name Phyllis.
Phyra was a character played by actress Enid Markey in the short film The Soul of Phyra (1915).
Pidetta was a character played by actress Rosita Marstini in the short film On the Trail of the Tigress (1916).
Pidgie Ryder was a character played by actress Leatrice Joy in the film The Invisible Divorce (1920).
Pierrette was a character name in multiple films, including Under the Make-Up (1913) and Laughter and Tears (1921).
Usage of the baby name Pierrette.
Pige was a character played by actress Marcia Mae Jones in the film Barefoot Boy (1938).
Pina Menichelli was an actress who appeared in films from the 1910s to the 1920s. She was born in Italy in 1890. Her birth name was Giuseppa Iolanda Menichelli.
Usage of the baby name Pina.
Pinkie was a character name in multiple films, including The Reward (short, 1915) and Oh, Yeah? (1929).
Usage of the baby name Pinkie.
Pinky was a character name in multiple films, including The Village Sleuth (1920) and Pinky (1949).
Usage of the baby name Pinky.
Pinna Nesbit was an actress who appeared in films from the 1910s to the 1920s. She was born in Canada in 1896.
Piquette was a character played by actress Shannon Day in the film Honor First (1922).
Plutina was a character played by actress Clara Kimball Young in the film The Heart of the Blue Ridge (1915).
Pola Negri was an actress who appeared in films from the 1910s to the 1960s. She was born in Poland in 1897. Her birth name was Barbara Apolonia Chałupec. Pola was also a character played by actress Elizabeth Allan in the film Insult (1932).
Usage of the baby name Pola.
Polaire Quinn was a character played by actress Madge Evans in the film The Greeks Had a Word for Them (1932).
Poldi Vogelhuber was a character played by actress Luise Rainer in the film The Great Waltz (1938).
Poll Patchouli was a character played by actress Dorothy Dalton in the film Fool's Paradise (1921).
Polly was a character name in multiple films, including Outlaws of the Sea (1923) and Shanghai Lady (1929).
Usage of the baby name Polly.
Pompeia Plotina was a character played by actress Caroline Frances Cooke in the short film In the Days of Trajan (1913).
Pompilia was a character played by actress Marie Newton in the short film The Ring and the Book (1914).
Pomposia was a character played by actress Helen Ware in the film The Warrior's Husband (1933).
Poppaea was a character name in multiple films, including Nero (1922) and The Sign of the Cross (1932).
Usage of the baby name Portland.
Posey was a character played by actress Edith Arnold in the film College Scandal (1935).
Usage of the baby name Posey.
Posie Stanton was a character played by actress Virginia Southern in the film Black Friday (1916).
Usage of the baby name Posie.
Preciosa was a character played by actress Alice Joyce in the short film Between Father and Son (1911).
Usage of the baby name Preciosa.
Prissy was a character name in multiple films, including The Dangerous Flirt (1924) and Gone with the Wind (1939).
Usage of the baby name Prissy.
Protéa was a character played by French actress Josette Andriot in multiple films in the 1910s.
Prue was a character name in multiple films, including Only Five Years Old (short, 1913) and The Man Who Had Everything (1920).
Usage of the baby name Prue.
Prunella Judson was a character played by actress ZaSu Pitts in the film Ruggles of Red Gap (1935).
Psyche was a character played by actress Lillian Yarbo in the film My Brother Talks to Horses (1947).
Puff Rogers was a character played by actress Wynne Gibson in the film Lady and Gent (1932).
Pundita	was a character played by actress Goldie Colwell in multiple films in the 1910s.
Which Baby Names Can Be Split in Two?
There lived for many years in the village of Twerton, Bath, one named Miah. He was born a twin, and his parents thriftily divided the predestined name of Jeremiah between them, the other babe being christened Jere.
What other names could we divide into two usable mini-names like this?
…what others can you think of?
Source: "Some Odd Christian Names." Bee [Earlington, KY] 8 Dec. 1916: 8.
I changed my name from Gail to Gayle in seventh grade because I liked to make a loopy Y.
I'm anticipating future pushback from readers who, over time, have come to accept and welcome names like 'Brayden' and 'Kaidence' into their lives. But until that fateful day arrives, I'm sticking to my belief that yoonique names are usually more effective at confusing teachers and government workers than they are at ensuring greatness and instilling confidence in kids.
Melville in a letter to Evert Duyckinck says that he and his wife will probably name their new-born son Stanwix because "this lad's great grandfather spent his summers [at Fort Stanwix] in the Revolutionary War before Saratoga came into being–I mean Saratoga Springs & Pavilions" (7 November 1851).
Celebrity names may also give an insight into public opinion: I enjoyed comparing trends for Jude and Sienna, especially what happens when Jude is exposed as a a CHEATING LOVE RAT in 2005 – the popularity of his name dips sharply, but hers continues to rise.
The name Laniakea was suggested by Nawa'a Napoleon, associate professor of Hawaiian Language at Kapiolani Community College. The Hawaiian name can be translated in a number of ways, including "open skies", "wide sky", or "wide horizons", but in this case it is understood as "immeasurable heavens". The name was chosen to honour Polynesian navigators who studied the heavens in order to navigate the Pacific Ocean.
All across America, parents are mangling names in a misguided mission to trumpet their kid's individuality. Take the wildly popular name Chase, which is actually not a name at all, but something a dog does to its tail. It was annoying to begin with, but now it gets worse as it slowly mutates from Chase to Chace, and on to Chayce.
Want to see more name quotes?