Gae

Gae is a feminine given name used in the English-speaking world, most notably in the United States and the United Kingdom. It is a variant of the name Gay, which itself derives from the English word gay meaning "gay, happy". The name Gay was originally a lively, cheerful name, but by the mid-20th century, the word 'gay' acquired the additional meaning of 'homosexual', leading to a sharp decline in its usage as a personal name. As a variant spelling, Gae emerged as an alternative that retained some phonetic similarity while visually distancing itself from the increasingly problematic homophone. Related variants include Gaye 1. Unlike other cheerful names that have endured, Gae remains very rare in contemporary usage, having largely fallen out of favor alongside its root name.

• Meaning: Derived from the word 'gay', meaning 'happy'
• Origin: English
• Type: Variant spelling
• Usage regions: English-speaking countries (chiefly historical)