Gayle (given name)

Gayle
Gender Unisex
Language(s) Hebrew
Anglo-Saxon
Origin
Meaning Happy God; Father in rejoicing; a father's joy; cheerful; joyful
Other names
Variant form(s) Gail
Gale[1]
Derived Abigail

Gayle (/ˈɡl/ GAYL) is derived from the name Abigail.[1]

It is a 1-syllable unisex name of Hebrew and Anglo-Saxon origins meaning Happy God; Father in rejoicing; a father's joy; cheerful; joyful.[1]

The intelligent, beautiful Abigail was Old Testament King David's third wife, described as 'good in discretion and beautiful in form.[2] It is used in modern English and was a popular baby's name during the 1950s and '60s.[1]

Under popular names it was ranked #4902 most common last name in the 1990 census.[3]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 A Dictionary of First Names, Patrick Hanks & Flavia Hodges, Oxford University Press, 1990, ISBN 0-19-211651-7.
  2. King James Bible.
  3. Name Statistics web site.
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