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Gael

Girl / Boy name · 87 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Gael: 87 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to both boys and girls, peaking at 12 births in 1976.

With Celtic roots, Gael directly references a speaker of Gaelic, linking it to the ancient Gaels of Scotland and Ireland; it is also used as a Catalan and Spanish form of the name Gallus, meaning "foreigner". A modern champion of the name is actor Gael García Bernal, the Mexican star of films like *The Motorcycle Diaries* and *Y Tu Mamá También*, who brought it international attention. The name’s strongest geographical tie is to the Gàidhealtachd, the Scottish regions where Gaelic language and culture remain vibrant. A popular variant, Gaël, is the standard spelling in French and has a softer, more continental feel that many parents find appealing.

Girl 13 of 52 years

Peak year
197612 babies
Latest (1994)
#6293 babies
Total births
75since 1974
5-year trend
▼ 42%vs prior 5y
1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 1976 · 12
Births per year in Scotland. Missing years had a count of 2 or fewer (suppressed by NRS).

Boy 4 of 52 years

Peak year
20183 babies
Latest (2022)
#7033 babies
Total births
12since 2018
5-year trend
≈ stablevs prior 5y
1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 2018 · 3
Births per year in Scotland. Missing years had a count of 2 or fewer (suppressed by NRS).