Gayle (given name)

Gayle (/ˈɡl/ GAYL) is a variant spelling of Gail, a short form of the name Abigail.[1]

Gayle
GenderUnisex
Language(s)Hebrew
Anglo-Saxon
Origin
MeaningHappy God; Father in rejoicing; a father's joy
Other names
Variant form(s)Gail
Gale[1]
DerivedAbigail

Abigail is a feminine English name with Hebrew origins, meaning "my father is joy." In the Old Testament Abigail was King David's third wife, described as 'good in discretion and beautiful in form.[2] It is used in modern English and was a popular baby's name during the 1950s and '60s.[1]

Gayle may occasionally be used as a masculine name.

Under popular names it was ranked #4902 most common last name in the 1990 census.[3]

People with the given name Gayle

  • Gayle King (born 1954), American television personality and journalist
  • Gayle McCormick (1948–2016), American singer, member of the band Smith

References

  1. A Dictionary of First Names, Patrick Hanks & Flavia Hodges, Oxford University Press, 1990, ISBN 0-19-211651-7.
  2. King James Bible.
  3. Name Statistics web site.
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