Gael
Gael: name meaning, origin and popularity
Pronunciation (IPA): /ɡeɪ̯l/
Meaning and origin of Gael
Root meaning: “Irishman”
- A male given name.
Etymology
Borrowed from Irish Gael, alt. Gaol, from earlier Gaoidheal, cognate with Scottish Gaelic Gàidheal and Manx Gael, from Middle Irish Gaídel, from Old Irish Goídel (“Irishman”), a loanword from Old Welsh Guoidel (“wild man, warrior”) (also recorded as a personal name in the Book of Llandaff), from Proto-Brythonic *Guɨðel (“savage, woodsman”), from Proto-Celtic *weidelos (“savage, woodsman”), related to *weidus (“wild”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₁weydʰh₁- (“wood, wilderness”) (cf. Old English wāþ (“hunt”)). Doublet of Goidel. False cognate of English Gaul, Gallia. Medieval Irish traditions, including the Lebor Gabála Érenn, trace the origin of the Goídels to an eponymous ancestor, Goídel Glas
How popular is Gael?
Since 1880, 673 girls and 49,079 boys in the U.S. have been named Gael (1% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #1672 in 1945. Its highest rank for boys was #86 in 2025. In 2025 it ranked #86 for boys, with 3,866 babies given the name.
Names similar to Gael
Names that start with the same letters, most popular first.
More Irish boy names
Sibling name ideas for Gael
Sister and brother names that share Gael's Irish roots and are still in the U.S. top 1,000.
Gael FAQ
What does the name Gael mean?
Gael traces back to a root meaning "Irishman". A male given name. Borrowed from Irish Gael, alt. Gaol, from earlier Gaoidheal, cognate with Scottish Gaelic Gàidheal and Manx Gael, from Middle Irish Gaídel, from Old Irish Goídel (“Irishman”), a loanword from Old Welsh Guoidel (“wild man, warrior”) (also recorded as a personal name in the Book of Llandaff), from Proto-Brythonic *Guɨðel (“savage, woodsman”), from Proto-Celtic *weidelos (“savage, woodsman”), related to *weidus (“wild”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₁weydʰh₁- (“wood, wilderness”) (cf. Old English wāþ (“hunt”)). Doublet of Goidel. False cognate of English Gaul, Gallia. Medieval Irish traditions, including the Lebor Gabála Érenn, trace the origin of the Goídels to an eponymous ancestor, Goídel Glas
What is the origin of the name Gael?
Gael is listed as a name of Irish origin.
How popular is the name Gael?
Since 1880, 673 girls and 49,079 boys in the U.S. have been named Gael (1% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #1672 in 1945. Its highest rank for boys was #86 in 2025. In 2025 it ranked #86 for boys, with 3,866 babies given the name.
Is Gael a boy or girl name?
Gael is mostly a boy name in the U.S.: 673 girls and 49,079 boys since 1880.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880–2025 (names given to 5+ babies per year). Origin and etymology text: Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.