Gala
A Spanish name derived from the word "gala", meaning celebration or festivity.
Name Census estimates that about 1,786 living Americans carry the first name Gala. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Gala today is around 35 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Gala births was 1965 (99 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Gala. 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
1.8K
~ 1 in 191,912 Americans
Peak year
1965
99 babies that year
Average age
35
years old
2024 SSA rank
#2,306
Tracked since 1919
Popularity
Gala: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Gala from the 1910s through to the 2020s, spanning 12 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 459 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Gala remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Gala 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 Gala during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Galas live
The SSA's state-level files cover 14 states and territories. Texas, California, Florida recorded the most babies named Gala, while North Carolina, Arizona, Arkansas recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 48 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Gala
The name Gala has its origins in the Spanish language, deriving from the word "gala," which means "celebration" or "festivity." The name first emerged in Spain during the medieval period, reflecting the country's rich cultural heritage and the significance of celebratory events.
Historically, the name Gala has been associated with elegant festivities and joyous occasions. It evokes a sense of merriment and celebration, often linked to the vibrant traditions and customs of Spanish society. In ancient texts and historical records, the word "gala" frequently appeared in descriptions of grand celebrations, royal ceremonies, and festive gatherings.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Gala was Gala Placidia, who lived from 388 to 450 AD. She was the daughter of Roman Emperor Theodosius I and played a significant role in the politics of the Western Roman Empire during her reign as the regent for her son, Valentinian III.
Another notable figure in history who bore the name Gala was Gala Dalí, the wife and muse of the renowned Spanish surrealist artist Salvador Dalí. Born in 1894 as Elena Ivanovna Diakonova, she was a Russian immigrant who had a profound influence on Dalí's artistic vision and became a central figure in the Surrealist movement.
In the realm of literature, Gala Éluard, born in 1892, was a prominent figure. She was married to the French poet Paul Éluard and was deeply involved in the Surrealist literary circle, inspiring and influencing many writers and artists of the time.
The name Gala also holds historical significance in the realm of music. Gala Dalí, born in 1958, is a Spanish operatic soprano who has gained international acclaim for her performances in various operatic roles, particularly in the works of composers such as Giuseppe Verdi and Giacomo Puccini.
Lastly, Gala Arben, born in 1975, is a Spanish actress and television presenter who has made a name for herself in the entertainment industry. She has appeared in numerous television shows and films, contributing to the cultural landscape of Spain and beyond.
People
Gala + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Gala 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
Gala: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Gala?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 1,786 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Gala 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 191,912 US residents.
Is Gala a common name?
We classify Gala as "Rare". It ranks above 93.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 2,112 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Gala most popular?
The single biggest year for Gala was 1965, when 99 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Gala is about 35 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Gala a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Gala in the SSA data are female. 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.