Gaia

♀ Girl

Pronounced GY-uh /ˈɡaɪ.ə/High

Meaning: Earth; from Greek Gaia (the personification of Earth, mother of all life)High

In 30 seconds: The Greek personification of Earth, the primordial mother goddess who gave birth to the sky, sea, and all living things. As the environmental movement has grown, Gaia has become a name that celebrates the planet itself.

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Origin HighGreek

MeaningEarth; from Greek Gaia (the personification of Earth, mother of all life)

U.S. rank (2025)#1392 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births157 girls (0.01% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2023

Total births (all-time)≈ 2,431

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Gaia (Greek: earth) is the personification of Earth in Greek mythology — the primordial goddess who emerged at the beginning of all things and gave birth to the sky (Uranus), the sea, and the Titans. Her name is the root of the prefix geo- (earth) in English.

Gaia has been used as a given name since at least the 19th century in Italian (where it is a form of Gaja, an Etruscan name) and has grown in English-speaking countries from the 1990s. It ranked #1147 for girls in 2024.

Did you know? The Gaia hypothesis, proposed by scientist James Lovelock in the 1970s, suggests that Earth behaves as a single self-regulating living organism — connecting the ancient goddess name to cutting-edge 21st-century environmental science.

Overall data confidence 96%

Behind the Name — Gaia — Greek mythology etymologyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

Gaea

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

★Gaia (mythological)
Primordial Greek goddess of the Earth, personification of the planet and mother of all life. The prefix geo- (geography, geology, geometry) derives from her name.

If you like Gaia…

Terra— Latin word-name for earth in the same planetary/environmental category

Flora— Roman goddess of flowers, a nature goddess name in the same tradition

Aurora— Roman dawn goddess name with the same luminous mythological depth

Artemis— Greek goddess of nature in the same Olympian mythology space

Explore names like Gaia

By themegreek two-syllable mythology goddess earth

By meaningEarth / Nature Life

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Gaia mean?

Gaia means 'earth,' the primordial Greek goddess who personifies the planet. The prefix geo- (geography, geology) derives from her name.

How do you pronounce Gaia?

It's said GY-uh — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Gaia a boy or girl name?

Gaia is used as a girls' name.

How popular is Gaia?

Gaia ranked #1147 for U.S. girls in 2024.