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Gala

Girl name · 3 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Gala: 3 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 3 births in 2023.

Gala has multiple possible origins. It likely derives from the Spanish and Italian word *gala*, meaning a festivity or elegant celebration, or as a short form of the Greek name Galatea, meaning “milk-white,” from the mythological sea nymph. The most famous bearer is Gala Dalí (1894–1982), the Russian-born muse and wife of artist Salvador Dalí, a key figure in surrealism. In Scotland, the name also corresponds to the Gala Water river in the Borders, a geographical link with a local place. A further note: while rare, Gala gained some awareness in the 1990s through the Italian singer Gala, known for the dance hit “Freed from Desire.”