Gail is a gender-neutral given name, most commonly used as a short form of Abigail. While traditionally a feminine name, it has also been used for males. Until the 1930s, Gail was equally common on both sexes; between the 1930s and 1960s, its use as a feminine name increased, marginalizing masculine usage by about 1960. Alternate spellings include Gaile, Gale, and Gayle, with Gale 1 treated as a variant in some databases. Etymology and History Gail originated as a diminutive of Abigail, which is derived from the Hebrew name אֲבִיגָיִל (Avigayil), meaning "my father is joy" — from אָב (ʾav) "father" and גִּיל (gil) "joy". In the Old Testament, Abigail was the wife of Nabal and later the third wife of King David. The English name Abigail became common after the Protestant Reformation, especially among Puritans. However, due to the biblical Abigail referring to herself as a servant, the name developed a slang meaning of "servant" after the 1616 play The Scornful Lady, leading to a decline in popularity until its revival in the 20th century. Notable Bearers Many notable individuals have borne the name Gail, spanning fields such as entertainment, sports, and politics. Examples include American journalist Gail Collins, Canadian politician Gail Beggs, actress Gail Boggs (1951), inventor Gail Borden (1801–1874), figure skater Gail Borden (1907–1991), tennis player Gail Brodsky (1991), and actress Gail Cronauer (1948). The name also appears in fictional settings, though its modern usage leans predominantly feminine. Related and Variant Forms Variants of Abigail that reflect the same shortening pattern include Abbey, Abbi, Abbie, Abby, and Abi. In other languages, Abigail appears as Abigale (Biblical Portuguese), Abigaïl (Biblical French), Abigaia (Biblical Greek), 'Avigayil (Biblical Hebrew), Abigaëlle (French), and Apikalia (Hawaiian). Cultural Significance Gail's dual-gender history reflects mid-20th-century naming trends, where diminutives of traditional feminine names gained popularity in their own right. The name saw a peak in female usage during the mid-1940s to 1960s in the United States, aligning with broader revivals of biblical names reinterpreted as secular choices. Meaning: "my father is joy" (as short for Abigail) Origin: English diminutive of Abigail, from Hebrew Type: Gender-neutral (predominantly feminine since 1930s) Usage Regions: English-speaking countries Variants: Gale, Gayle, Gaile