Gil
Gil is a boy's name of Hebrew origin.
Meaning
Joy or happiness in Hebrew; bright pledge when derived from Gilbert.
Origin and history
Gil is a short given name of Hebrew origin meaning joy or happiness, while also serving as a diminutive for Gilbert in English or French. It is also recognized as a common Spanish name derived from the Latin Aegidius (Giles). In the United States, Gil has maintained steady, understated usage as a concise classic.
Popularity in the United States
4,971 babies in the United States have been named Gil since 1880. It ranks #1729 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1786.
States where it is most popular
- CA (40.4 %)
- NY (25.5 %)
- TX (21.1 %)
- IL (3.7 %)
- NJ (2.1 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 39 |
| 1920-1930 | 114 |
| 1930-1940 | 160 |
| 1940-1950 | 381 |
| 1950-1960 | 915 |
| 1960-1970 | 900 |
| 1970-1980 | 516 |
| 1980-1990 | 508 |
| 1990-2000 | 508 |
| 2000-2010 | 469 |
| 2010-2019 | 320 |
| 2020-2029 | 141 |
Famous people named Gil
- Gil Hodges: Baseball player, Baseball manager
- Gil Scott-Heron: Musician, Poet
- Gil Bellows: Actor
Fun facts
- In Hebrew, Gil is a standalone noun meaning joy or rejoicing, often used as a unisex modern name in Israel.
- Besides its Hebrew root, Gil frequently developed as a short form of Gilbert or the Spanish equivalent of Giles.