Gage

♂ Boy

Pronounced GAYJ /ɡeɪdʒ/High

Meaning: From Old French gage meaning pledge, security, or guarantee; also a surname from the same root and a word for a measuring instrument; used as a given name for its confident single-syllable punchHigh

In 30 seconds: Gage is a sharp, one-syllable name meaning pledge or measure from Old French. With a confident, modern edge it has been a steady American favorite, and gained notoriety as the chilling child character in Stephen King's Pet Sematary.

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Origin HighFrench, English

MeaningFrom Old French gage meaning pledge, security, or guarantee; also a surname from the same root and a word for a measuring instrument; used as a given name for its confident single-syllable punch

U.S. rank (2025)#973 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births235 boys (0.01% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2003

Total births (all-time)≈ 60,790

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Gage derives from Old French gage meaning pledge or security. It became an English surname and has been used as a masculine given name in the United States since the 19th century.

Gage rose in American popularity in the 1990s and 2000s, fitting the trend for strong, single-syllable surname-names. Stephen King's use of Gage as the young child protagonist in Pet Sematary (1983) gave it a memorable, albeit dark, cultural imprint.

Did you know? Phineas Gage (1823–1860), the American railroad worker who survived having an iron rod driven through his skull in 1848, is one of history's most famous medical case studies. His changed personality afterward transformed understanding of the brain's role in personality.

Overall data confidence 87%

Behind the Name — Gage — Old French etymologyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

GaugeGaige

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Gage…

Cole— shares the crisp one-syllable Old French origin surname-name quality

Wade— same one-syllable rugged American masculine name feel

Reid— shares the confident single-syllable surname-name appeal

Chase— same one-syllable action-word name with a modern American edge

Frequently Asked

What does the name Gage mean?

Gage means pledge, security, or measure from Old French gage. It is both a surname and a given name in English-speaking countries.

How do you pronounce Gage?

It is said GAYJ, as a single syllable, rhyming with cage and sage.

Is Gage a popular name?

Gage has been consistently popular in the United States since the 1990s, especially in Southern and Western states.

Is Gage a boy or girl name?

Gage is used almost exclusively as a boys name.