Gail
Meaning: Its source is an English expression meaning "Storm."
Popularity: The name Gail ranked 868th in popularity for males of all ages in a sample of the 1990 US Census.
Though this name appears on the 1990 U.S. Census lists, it is used by only a small percentage of the general population.
Narrative: Some authorities believe the male version of this name comes from Gael (a term for an Irishman). Others believe it is a short form of Galen. The female version of the name is generally considered a short form of Abigail.
Sports
- Gail Goodrich
American basketball player.
- Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1996 (see list of Basketball Hall of Fame)
Teasing Nicknames:
- Gay
- Snail
- Rail
- Frail Gail
- Quail
- Whale
- Windy
Meaning: Its source is Abigail, an English name meaning "Exalted father."
Languages: This girl's name is used in English.
Nickname For: Abigail
Nicknames: Gay
Variant Forms: Gaila
Source Forms: Avigayil
Popularity: The name Gail ranked 155th in popularity for females of all ages in a sample of the 1990 US Census.
This name is highly rated in the 1990 U.S. Census popularity survey of all ages, but after 1960 does not appear in the state data listing the most popular baby names.
Narrative: This is also an alternate spelling of Gale, a name based on the common English word for a storm with strong winds.
Arts and Music
- Gail Kubik
- 1952 Pulitzer Prize winner for Music Composition (see list of Winners of the Pulitzer Prize for Music)
Leadership
- Gail McGovern
- 27th Most Powerful Woman, President , Personal Investments, Fidelity Investments (see list of 2000 Fortune 50 Most Powerful Women in American Business)
Miscellaneous
- Gail McHenry
- 1969 Mademoiselle Award winner (see list of Mademoiselle Award Winners)
Sports
- Gail Devers
American athlete.
- 1992 and 1996 Olympic track and field gold medal winner for 100m (see list of Olympic Gold Medalists in the 100 Meter Sprint)
- Gail Neal
Australian athlete.
- 1972 Olympic swimming gold medal winner in 400m Individual Medley (see list of Olympic Gold Medalists in Individual Medley)
Stage and Screen
- Gail Baldwin
Fictional character.
- Character on the soap opera ''''General Hospital'''' (see list of Characters on ''General Hospital'')
- Gail Davis
- Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame for Television (see list of Television Personalities with Stars in the Hollywood Walk of Fame)
- Gail
Characters with this name appeared in films directed by Woody Allen.
- Portrayed by Julie Kavner (see list of Characters in the film Hannah and Her Sisters)
- Portrayed by Rebecca Glenn (see list of Characters in the film Husbands and Wives)
- Gail Matthius
Comedienne.
- A cast member on ''''Saturday Night Live,'''' from 1980-1981 (see list of Saturday Night Live)
- Gail O'Grady (born 1963)
American actress.
- Portrayed Donna Abandando from 1993-1996 (see list of Actors on ''NYPD Blue'')
- Gail Russell (born 1924, died 1961)
American actress.
- Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame for Motion Picture (see list of Movie Personalities with Stars in the Hollywood Walk of Fame)
The Literary World
- Gail Godwin (born 1937)
American novelist.
- Wrote Glass People (see list of Prose Writers of the 20th Century)
Teasing Nicknames:
- Snail
- Rail
- Frail Gail
- Quail
- Whale
- Windy
- Gail Smell
- Fail
- Pale Gail
