Gyles
Derived from the Greek name Aegidius, meaning "young goat" or "kid".
Name Census estimates that about 1 living Americans carry the first name Gyles. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Gyles today is around 88 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Gyles births was 1933 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Gyles. 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.
For a British comparison, Name Census UK has a UK baby-name profile for Gyles with official rankings and popularity over time.
Key insights
- • The typical person named Gyles is about 88 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Gyles' were born before 1948.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Gyles. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
1
~ 1 in 342,754,338 Americans
Peak year
1933
6 babies that year
Average age
88
years old
1933 SSA rank
#3,436
Tracked since 1933
Popularity
Gyles: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Gyles 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 Gyles during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1930s | 6 | 0 | 6 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Gyles
The given name Gyles has its origins in the ancient Greek language. It is derived from the Greek word "gylios," which means "circular" or "rounded." This name likely emerged during the classical period of ancient Greek civilization, around the 5th century BC.
In its earliest recorded usage, the name Gyles was often associated with individuals involved in the production of pottery or other crafts that involved working with rounded or circular objects. It was a name given to artisans and craftsmen who specialized in creating vessels, bowls, and other ceramic wares.
One of the earliest documented references to the name Gyles can be found in the works of the ancient Greek historian Herodotus, who lived in the 5th century BC. He mentions a potter named Gyles who was renowned for his skillful craftsmanship in creating intricate and beautifully decorated vases.
During the Byzantine era, which lasted from the 4th to the 15th century AD, the name Gyles was commonly used among Greek-speaking populations in the Eastern Roman Empire. It was particularly popular in regions such as Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey) and the Balkans.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Gyles. One of the earliest recorded was Gyles of Tyre, a Greek merchant and explorer who lived in the 2nd century BC. He is known for his extensive travels throughout the Mediterranean region and his accounts of the lands and cultures he encountered.
Another prominent figure was Gyles of Viterbo, an Italian Renaissance humanist and scholar who lived from 1469 to 1532. He was a prolific writer and contributed significantly to the study of ancient history and literature.
In the 16th century, Gyles Allington (1518-1586) was an English landowner and member of Parliament. He played a role in the religious and political turmoil of the English Reformation and was a supporter of the Protestant cause.
During the 17th century, Gyles Strangways (1615-1675) was an English politician and member of the House of Commons. He was actively involved in the English Civil War and supported the Parliamentarian forces against King Charles I.
In more recent times, Gyles Brandreth (born 1948) is a British writer, broadcaster, and former member of Parliament. He has authored numerous books, including biographies and works of fiction, and has been a prominent figure in British media and politics.
These are just a few examples of individuals throughout history who have borne the given name Gyles, which has its roots in the ancient Greek language and was initially associated with craftsmen and artisans working with circular objects.
People
Gyles + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Gyles 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
Gyles: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Gyles?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 1 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Gyles 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 342,754,338 US residents.
Is Gyles a common name?
We classify Gyles as "Very Rare". It ranks above 3.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 6 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Gyles most popular?
The single biggest year for Gyles was 1933, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Gyles is about 88 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 Gyles in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Gyles a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Gyles 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 Gyles still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Gyles 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 Gyles 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 share the name Gyles?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.