First of all, I’ll say that I love the name [name]Gabriel[/name].
However, I did know a [name]Gabe[/name] growing up (small town, but in a fairly liberal area), and he did get gay jokes constantly. So it can happen.
I went to school with a guy named [name]Galen[/name] (pronounced gay-len). He pulled it off, but did have some “gay” teasing to contend with. I’ve known Gabriels too, but it actually never occurred to me to use any nickname other than [name]Gabe[/name]. I don’t think [name]Gabriel[/name] is nearly as problematic as a name like [name]Galen[/name] would be.
Thanks for all the opinions girls. It’s good to hear both sides of the coin. I guess there may be some teasing but I’m thinking that happens to most kids about SOMETHING, whatever their name. I’m pretty sure we’ll use the name [name]Gabriel[/name], it’s just so lovely and we love the meaning: “God’s able-bodied one; hero of God” as well. Plus it’s still quite unusual where we live so he won’t be one of many. 
My name is [name]Gabriel[/name] and I had some problems with [name]Gabrielle[/name] [name]Gay[/name] [name]Baby[/name] and You cant spell [name]Gabe[/name] with out [name]Gay[/name]. But there is two ways to deal with it be a wimp and back down or you give them a bop in the mouth (assuming that the person is not a girl) now if it is a girl you simply say something in return about an ovious flaw in there appearance or even in there name! Or if your child is more mild mannered simply tell a teacher or school councler. But I feel having that name has help me a lot and I thank my parents for it and do not let anyone convience you it is not a good name for your child.
[name]Gabriel[/name] [name]James[/name]
Honestly I know quite a few children and adult males with the name [name]Gabriel[/name] and honestly the teasing of ‘[name]Gay[/name]’ hasn’t been an issue. The biggest issue was for a boy I went to school with who was nn by a bully the name [name]Gabby[/name] instead of [name]Gabe[/name]. [name]Gabriel[/name] [name]Alexander[/name] has a great flow!
I’ve also never heard a [name]Gabriel[/name]/[name]Gabe[/name] teased about his name in that way. I’t a pretty popular name, and it’s just getting popular, so I don’t think you have to worry about that. Also it’s honestly because of the kid that a name gets made fun of. You could name you son something crazy awful like [name]Millard[/name], and if he’s the coolest guy in school nobody is going to make fun of it. You could name him something totally acceptable like [name]Michael[/name], and if kids have decided they’re going to pick on him, they’ll find something in his name.
I was set on using [name]Gabriel[/name] for my son but then when I told my family they hated it. They all joked that they would call him [name]Gay[/name] [name]Gab[/name]. That changed my mind pretty fast 
There was a [name]Gabriel[/name] in my school growing up and in elementary and middle school, everyone called him [name]Gabrielle[/name]/[name]Gabriella[/name] or [name]Gabby[/name]. And then in high school he was “[name]Gay[/name]” or “[name]Gay[/name]-bee” (because of how [name]Gabe[/name] looks on paper, I guess).
[name]Gabriel[/name]/[name]Gabe[/name] is cool for the unique individual. I’ve known a couple of Gabriels who are known as [name]Gabe[/name]. The [name]Gay[/name] connection is a pretty big stretch for me - unlike [name]Galen[/name] for example.
I love the names [name]Gabriel[/name] and have never even thought of the “gay” nickname.
What I say when it comes to names and being made fun of: kids are going to be made fun of for something. and even the most popular times may have a tease to go with it. I’m [name]Emma[/name], and I was called Dilemma throughout elementary school. So name your kids what you want.
The nickname for [name]Gabriel[/name] is [name]Gabe[/name], not [name]Gay[/name]. Never heard of a [name]Gabriel[/name] being teased.
I know a couple of Gabriels and none of them have ever been teased. I even know a gay [name]Gabriel[/name] who’s never been teased. I have never heard of [name]Gay[/name] as short for [name]Gabriel[/name], only [name]Gabe[/name]. The only boy’s name I can think of that might have the nn [name]Gay[/name] is [name]Gaylord[/name].
Hey,my great-great grandfathers name was [name]Gaylord[/name], that’s a million times worse than anything! [name]Gabriel[/name] is a fantastic name. I went to middle school with one (prime teasing age) and he was never called gay or anything like that. I know it never even occurred to me that [name]Gabe[/name] sounds like gay, I don’t know if other kids thout of it, but no one said anything as far as I know.