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Gage

Pronunciation: [ g-AYJ ]

Boy Name #834 Most Popular Steady 1 Syllable

A one-syllable surname name with frontier edge

American English French
Modern Bold Vintage Strong

Meaning & Origin

"pledge, security deposit"
Origin: Old French gage
Language: Old French
"measure, measurement tool"
Origin: English occupational
Language: English

Things to Know About This Name

  • Associated with Gage from Stephen King's Pet Sematary (1983) - a child who dies and returns as a murderous creature

The Story of Gage

Gage comes from Old French gage meaning pledge or security deposit, related to the concept of giving something as a guarantee (as in wage and engage, which share the root). As an English surname, it was used for someone who collected pledges or measured goods. The name Phineas Gage became historically notable in 1848 when a railway worker survived a remarkable brain injury that altered his personality.

Gage peaked in the United States in the late 1990s and early 2000s, part of the wave of short, punchy one-syllable names popular at that time. It appeared in the top 200 U.S. names from 1995-2010 but has been declining since.

Phineas P. Gage (1823-1860) became one of the most famous cases in neuroscience history after surviving a severe brain injury that dramatically changed his personality. His case transformed understanding of the brain and frontal lobe function.

Fun Facts

  • Phineas Gage (1823-1860) survived having a 13-pound iron rod blown through his skull, becoming one of the most studied cases in neuroscience history
  • The words wage, engage, and mortgage all share the same Old French root as Gage

Gage in Other Languages

French Gage
English Gage

Famous People Named Gage

P

Phineas P. Gage

Other

1823

American railroad worker whose survival of a severe brain injury became a landmark case in neuroscience

G

Gage Creed Fictional

Other

Young child character in Stephen King novel Pet Sematary (1983)

Quick Facts

Gender
Boy
Syllables
1
Popularity Rank
#834
Total SSA Count
297
Cultural Origins
American English French
Pronunciation
Easy
Formality
Casual
Cross-Cultural Ease
Moderate

Pairs Well With

Gage Michael Gage William Gage Thomas Gage Andrew Gage Lee Gage Allen Gage Matthew

Sibling Names

Also a Girl Name

Gage is also used as a girl name, ranked #55419.

View Gage as a girl name →

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Frequently Asked Questions About Gage

What does the name Gage mean?
"pledge, security deposit" (from Old French gage). "measure, measurement tool" (from English occupational). Gage comes from Old French gage meaning pledge or security deposit, related to the concept of giving something as a guarantee (as in wage and engage, which share the root). As an English surname, it was used for someone who collected pledges or measured goods. The name Phineas Gage became historically notable in 1848 when a railway worker survived a remarkable brain injury that altered his personality.
What is the origin of the name Gage?
Gage has Old French gage, English occupational, American, English, and French origins. In Old French gage, it means "pledge, security deposit". In English occupational, it means "measure, measurement tool".
Is Gage a boy or girl name?
Gage is used as both a boy and girl name. As a boy name, it is ranked #834. As a girl name, it is ranked #55419. Gage is more commonly used as a boy name.
How do you pronounce Gage?
Gage is pronounced g-AYJ.
How popular is the name Gage?
Gage is currently ranked #834 in popularity for boy names in the United States.
What are good middle names for Gage?
Popular middle name pairings include Gage Michael, Gage William, Gage Thomas, Gage Andrew, Gage Lee, Gage Allen, and Gage Matthew.
What are good sibling names for Gage?
Names that pair well with Gage as siblings include Brock, Colt, Chase, Harley, Jade, Brynn, and Blair.
How many syllables does Gage have?
Gage has 1 syllable, making it easy to say and remember.
Is Gage a common or rare name?
Gage is moderately common, ranked #834 for boys in the US. You will encounter it, but it stands out.

About the Name Gage

Gage is a boy name with American, English, and French origins . The name means "pledge, security deposit" in Old French gage .

Is Gage a boy or girl name? Gage is used as both a boy and girl name. As a boy name, it ranks #834 in popularity. As a girl name, it ranks #55,419. Gage is more commonly used as a boy name.

Gage is currently ranked #834 in popularity for boy names in the United States.

The name Gage has 1 syllable and is pronounced g-AYJ, making it easy to pronounce and remember.

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