Gailand
Of obscure origin, potentially meaning "forest clearing" or "open ground".
Name Census estimates that about 6 living Americans carry the first name Gailand. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Gailand today is around 79 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Gailand births was 1948 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Gailand. 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.
Key insights
- • The typical person named Gailand is about 79 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Gailands were born before 1957.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Gailand. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
6
~ 1 in 57,125,723 Americans
Peak year
1948
6 babies that year
Average age
79
years old
1948 SSA rank
#3,443
Tracked since 1941
Popularity
Gailand: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Gailand 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 Gailand during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1940s | 11 | 0 | 11 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Gailand
The name Gailand is a modern variation of the Old French name Gailard, which originated from the Germanic name Gailhart, meaning "hardy" or "strong as a spear." This name gained popularity in France during the Middle Ages, particularly in the northern regions of the country.
In the 12th century, the name Gailhart was recorded in several chivalric romances and courtly poetry, reflecting its association with knightly and noble lineages. One notable mention is in the epic poem "La Chanson de Roland" (The Song of Roland), where a character named Gailhart is described as a valiant warrior.
The transition from Gailhart to Gailand occurred gradually over time, with the spelling variations Gaillard, Gailliard, and Gaylard appearing in various historical records across different regions of France and neighboring territories.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Gailand was Gailand de Corbeil (c. 1165 – c. 1235), a renowned physician and poet from the town of Corbeil, near Paris. He served as a court physician to King Philip Augustus of France and wrote several influential medical treatises.
In the 14th century, Gailand de Chauvigny (c. 1300 – c. 1380) was a notable French nobleman who served as a military commander under King John II during the Hundred Years' War. His bravery and leadership earned him the title of "Seigneur de Chauvigny."
During the Renaissance period, Gailand Duchâtel (c. 1470 – 1542) was a celebrated French sculptor and architect who worked on several notable buildings in Paris, including the Châtelet and the Petit-Bourbon Palace.
In the 17th century, Gailand de Maraise (1628 – 1673) was a French playwright and poet who gained recognition for his tragedies and contributions to the development of French classical drama.
Another notable figure was Gailand de La Galissonnière (1693 – 1756), a French naval officer and administrator who served as the Governor General of New France (Canada) from 1747 to 1749, playing a crucial role in the defense of the French colony during the French and Indian War.
While the name Gailand has remained relatively uncommon throughout history, its origins and associations with strength, bravery, and nobility have contributed to its enduring legacy as a distinctive and meaningful given name.
People
Gailand + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Gailand 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
Gailand: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Gailand?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 6 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Gailand 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 57,125,723 US residents.
Is Gailand a common name?
We classify Gailand as "Very Rare". It ranks above 22.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 11 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Gailand most popular?
The single biggest year for Gailand was 1948, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Gailand is about 79 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Gailand in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Gailand a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Gailand 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.
Is Gailand still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Gailand in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Gailand can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
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.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people have Gailand as a first name?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.