Fun Facts About the Name Gae
- 652 babies named Gae: U.S. records list 652 babies given the name Gae from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Gae Mean?
Gae is an English feminine given name, a spelling variant of Gay or Gaye. That name comes from the English adjective gay, which was borrowed from Old French gai, meaning "merry, cheerful, lively." The deeper origin of the Old French word is disputed: it is usually traced to a Frankish term for "quick, impetuous" (related to Old High German gāhi), but this is not settled. The meaning the name carried into English is not in doubt: cheerful, lighthearted.
A separate strand is Italian. Gae is used as a short form of Gaetana, the feminine of Gaetano. Both come from the Latin Caietanus, meaning "from Caieta" - the ancient town now called Gaeta, on the coast of Lazio. So the English name means "merry," while the Italian one names a place of origin.
Gae Name History & Origins
The adjective gay entered Middle English from Old French gai, and English speakers used it as a given name, mainly for girls. The spellings Gay, Gaye, and Gae circulated alongside one another; the ae form gives the name the look of French spelling. The name was common in the English-speaking world in the first half of the 20th century and became uncommon later in that century as the adjective took on its modern meaning.
Gae also appears as an Italian short form of Gaetana, the feminine of Gaetano, both from Latin Caietanus, "of Caieta." Gaetano has long been a common name in Italy, helped by the cult of Saint Gaetano of Thiene (1480 - 1547), a co-founder of the Theatines; the feminine Gaetana produced the short form Gae. The architect and designer Gae Aulenti (1927 - 2012), born Gaetana Aulenti, is the best-known bearer. This Italian use is independent of the English name spelled the same way.
How Popular is the Name Gae?
Gae has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 1946. Its best rank was #1,691 in 1946.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | #5,827 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1967 | #4,398 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1966 | #4,613 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1965 | #3,460 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1964 | #3,946 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1963 | #4,654 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1962 | #3,655 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1961 | #3,100 | 17 | 0.0008% |
| 1960 | #3,562 | 13 | 0.0006% |
| 1959 | #3,314 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1958 | #3,805 | 11 | 0.0005% |
| 1957 | #3,075 | 15 | 0.0007% |
| 1956 | #2,562 | 20 | 0.0010% |
| 1955 | #2,658 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 1954 | #2,202 | 24 | 0.0012% |
| 1953 | #2,626 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1952 | #1,904 | 28 | 0.0015% |
| 1951 | #2,030 | 24 | 0.0013% |
| 1950 | #2,952 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 1949 | #2,548 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1948 | #1,873 | 26 | 0.0015% |
| 1947 | #2,383 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1946 | #1,691 | 28 | 0.0018% |
| 1945 | #1,811 | 22 | 0.0017% |
| 1944 | #2,131 | 17 | 0.0013% |
| 1943 | #2,284 | 16 | 0.0011% |
| 1942 | #2,246 | 16 | 0.0012% |
| 1941 | #2,299 | 14 | 0.0012% |
| 1940 | #1,917 | 18 | 0.0016% |
| 1939 | #3,239 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1938 | #3,012 | 9 | 0.0008% |
| 1937 | #2,489 | 12 | 0.0011% |
| 1936 | #2,079 | 15 | 0.0014% |
| 1935 | #2,802 | 10 | 0.0010% |
| 1934 | #2,805 | 10 | 0.0010% |
| 1933 | #3,544 | 7 | 0.0007% |
| 1932 | #2,902 | 10 | 0.0009% |
| 1931 | #3,624 | 7 | 0.0007% |
| 1930 | #3,806 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1929 | #4,842 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1928 | #4,986 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1927 | #4,489 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1926 | #5,136 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1925 | #4,625 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1924 | #3,790 | 8 | 0.0006% |
| 1923 | #3,468 | 9 | 0.0007% |
| 1921 | #3,799 | 8 | 0.0006% |
| 1919 | #3,998 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1918 | #4,497 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1917 | #3,865 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1913 | #2,973 | 6 | 0.0010% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Most Popular Girl Names That Start with G
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How the Name Gae Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are introspective, prophetic, philosophical, and soul searching, but also can be analytical, critical and opinionated. You think deeply and clearly, have an air of mystery, can be solitary and secretive. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.
Dependable, very down-to-earth and well grounded, you are always looking for meaningful work, a career where you can take pride in your work and do the best job you are capable of. Your prime desire is to build protected and secure environment at home and at work. You can be very persuasive in achieving goals and gaining objectives. You can be very detailed and well-organized and possess great organizational skills. At times you may appear too stubborn and overly critical to others, but your practical approach to life and productivity makes you one of the most beneficent members of community.
✦ Gae's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Gae's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.