Gaël

Gaël is a masculine given name of French origin. It is commonly understood to be derived from Gaelic heritage, reflecting the historic Gaels of Ireland, Scotland, and Brittany. In French-speaking countries, the name gained popularity in the 20th century and remains widely used in France, Belgium, Switzerland, and Canada (notably Quebec).

The name is typically pronounced with two syllables in French, roughly as ga-EL. The diacritic on the e signals the separation of syllables. A feminine form of the name is Gaëlle, which also carries the same Gaelic-root association in many French-speaking communities.

Usage and cultural associations: Gaël is often associated with Celtic or Gaelic heritage in Francophone contexts. It is used across various regions that have ties to French culture and language, and it can appear in literature, sports, and the arts as a distinctly Francophone name.

Notable people named Gaël include Gaël Faye, born in 1982, a Rwandan-French author and musician known for works such as Petit Pays, and Gaël Monfils, born in 1986, a prominent French professional tennis player. The name also appears in other Francophone spheres and has contemporary usage in media and public life.

See also Gael (disambiguation) for related uses and variations of the name outside the French spelling.