Gaines Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Gaines is an Old French name stemming from the Latin 'gaius', meaning joyful. It has evolved through various forms like Gain and Gaius before becoming Gaines. The name is characterized by its historical roots and has grown in popularity in the United States. It does not have any biblical relevance.
The name Gaines is most popular in Alabama, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Silent Generation generation in the South region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Gaines has been falling for male in South. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in South. Across generations, 'Gaines' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 1482nd out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 1537th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 1994th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 4186th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 6469th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 7684th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 4663rd out of 23106 names. Discover how the name 'Gaines' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Gaines"
Pronunciation
/ɡeɪnz/
Origin
Old French
Etymology
The name Gaines is derived from the Old French personal name 'Gain', which itself comes from the Latin word 'gaius', meaning 'rejoice' or 'joyful'.
Meaning
joyful
Language Evolution
Gain, Gaius, Gaines
Historical Usage
The name Gaines gained popularity in the United States during the 19th century, particularly as a surname, and has been used as a given name more recently.
Variants & Derivatives
Gain, Gaine, Gaynor
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Gaines is perceived as a traditional and strong name, often associated with a sense of heritage and charm.
Famous People
Zachary Gaines, an American football player, Gaines Adams, an American football player, Gaines M. Foster, a notable historian
Explore More Gaines Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Gaines"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Gaines"
"Gaines" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 1482nd of 7545 | 392 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 1537th of 6773 | 378 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 1994th of 7552 | 305 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 4186th of 10718 | 98 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 6469th of 16616 | 91 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 7684th of 24088 | 138 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 4663rd of 23106 | 253 |
Regional Popularity of "Gaines" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - |
48.48% 1147th/2366 |
- |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - |
46.83% 1102nd/2353 |
- |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - |
68.03% 1941st/2853 |
- |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - |
45.60% 3111th/6822 |
- |
Regional Popularity of "Gaines" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Gaines"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Gaines" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.