UK girl's name
Gala
A Spanish name derived from the word "gala", meaning celebration or festivity.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Gala is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Gala popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3015, with 8 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2023, with 11 births.
This profile covers 92 England and Wales registrations across 15 recorded years from 2000 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NRS Scotland, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 73% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 95 living people in the UK are called Gala. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Gala ranked #3015 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 8 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2023, when 11 girls were registered as Gala.
- • Gala ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #749 in 2023.
- • About 95 living people in the UK are estimated to have Gala as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3015
2024
Births in 2024
8
Latest year
Peak year
2023
11 births
Estimated living
95
2026
Meaning
What does Gala mean?
The name Gala has its origins in the Spanish language, deriving from the word "gala," which means "celebration" or "festivity." The name first emerged in Spain during the medieval period, reflecting the country's rich cultural heritage and the significance of celebratory events.
Historically, the name Gala has been associated with elegant festivities and joyous occasions. It evokes a sense of merriment and celebration, often linked to the vibrant traditions and customs of Spanish society. In ancient texts and historical records, the word "gala" frequently appeared in descriptions of grand celebrations, royal ceremonies, and festive gatherings.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Gala was Gala Placidia, who lived from 388 to 450 AD. She was the daughter of Roman Emperor Theodosius I and played a significant role in the politics of the Western Roman Empire during her reign as the regent for her son, Valentinian III.
Another notable figure in history who bore the name Gala was Gala Dalí, the wife and muse of the renowned Spanish surrealist artist Salvador Dalí. Born in 1894 as Elena Ivanovna Diakonova, she was a Russian immigrant who had a profound influence on Dalí's artistic vision and became a central figure in the Surrealist movement.
In the realm of literature, Gala Éluard, born in 1892, was a prominent figure. She was married to the French poet Paul Éluard and was deeply involved in the Surrealist literary circle, inspiring and influencing many writers and artists of the time.
The name Gala also holds historical significance in the realm of music. Gala Dalí, born in 1958, is a Spanish operatic soprano who has gained international acclaim for her performances in various operatic roles, particularly in the works of composers such as Giuseppe Verdi and Giacomo Puccini.
Lastly, Gala Arben, born in 1975, is a Spanish actress and television presenter who has made a name for herself in the entertainment industry. She has appeared in numerous television shows and films, contributing to the cultural landscape of Spain and beyond.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Gala over time
The chart below shows babies named Gala registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2000 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Gala, the clearest high point is 2023. The latest England and Wales figure is 8 births in 2024, compared with 11 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Gala by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Gala was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #3094 | 39 | 5 |
| 2010s | #4232 | 37 | 7 |
| 2000s | #3432 | 16 | 3 |
Geography
Where Gala is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Gala. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.
Gala ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #749 in 2023.
Across the UK
Gala in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#749 in 2023
1 years of NRS records, 3 total registered
Notable bearers
Famous people named Gala
-
Gala Gordon
executive producer; film actor; actor
Argentine-English actress and model
1991-
-
Gala Wright
furniture designer
British furniture designer
Related
Names similar to Gala
- Grace 79,208
- Georgia 48,838
- Gracie 18,387
- Georgina 15,599
- Gabriella 10,902
- Gemma 8,350
- Gabrielle 7,154
- Georgie 4,883
- Gabriela 3,300
- Genevieve 2,393
- Gracie-Mae 1,727
- Greta 1,283
FAQ
Gala: questions and answers
How popular is the name Gala in the UK right now?
In 2024, Gala was ranked #3015 for girls in England and Wales, with 8 births registered.
When was Gala most popular?
The peak year on record was 2023, with 11 babies registered as Gala in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Gala?
A Spanish name derived from the word "gala", meaning celebration or festivity.
How many people are called Gala in the UK?
A total of 92 babies have been registered as Gala across the 15 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 3 more in Scotland.
Where is Gala most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Gala ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #749 in 2023. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.