Gadge
A name of uncertain origin, possibly derived from the Germanic root "gad" meaning "hook" or "goad".
Name Census estimates that about 157 living Americans carry the first name Gadge. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Gadge today is around 23 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Gadge births was 2006 (16 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Gadge. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
157
~ 1 in 2,183,149 Americans
Peak year
2006
16 babies that year
Average age
23
years old
2012 SSA rank
#11,254
Tracked since 1993
Popularity
Gadge: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Gadge from the 1990s through to the 2010s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2000s, with 98 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 2000s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Gadge by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Gadge during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Gadge
The given name Gadge is believed to have originated from the ancient Germanic language, dating back to the medieval period around the 6th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old High German word "gad," which means a spear or javelin, symbolizing strength and valor. The name was commonly found among the Germanic tribes that inhabited parts of modern-day Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
One of the earliest recorded references to the name Gadge can be found in the Nibelungenlied, a famous German epic poem from the 13th century. The text mentions a character named Gadge, who was a skilled warrior known for his bravery and prowess on the battlefield.
In the 11th century, a notable figure named Gadge von Rothenburg was a renowned knight and military commander who served under the Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV. He played a significant role in the Investiture Controversy, a conflict between the emperor and the Catholic Church over the appointment of bishops.
During the 14th century, Gadge Willems was a respected merchant and trader in the Hanseatic League, a powerful economic alliance of merchant guilds and market towns in Northern Europe. He was known for his successful trading ventures and contributed to the prosperity of the League.
In the realm of religious history, Gadge Hildebrand was a prominent monk and scholar who lived in the 9th century. He was renowned for his extensive knowledge of theology and his contributions to the preservation of ancient manuscripts and texts.
Another notable figure with the name Gadge was Gadge Falkner, a skilled architect and stonemason from the 16th century. He was responsible for the construction of several notable churches and cathedrals across Germany, including the famous St. Michael's Church in Munich, which is still standing today.
While the name Gadge has its roots in Germanic languages, it has also been adopted and adapted in various other cultures and regions over the centuries, reflecting the rich diversity and interconnectedness of human civilizations.
People
Gadge + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Gadge as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with G
Other first names starting with G with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Gadge: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Gadge?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 157 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Gadge going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 2,183,149 US residents.
Is Gadge a common name?
We classify Gadge as "Very Rare". It ranks above 70.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 159 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Gadge most popular?
The single biggest year for Gadge was 2006, when 16 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Gadge is about 23 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Gadge a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Gadge in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.