Hilary
Hilary is a girl's name of Latin origin.
Meaning
Cheerful, happy, or joyful.
Origin and history
Hilary is a classic given name derived from the Latin Hilarius, meaning cheerful or joyful. While historically given to both males and females, in the United States it has been used predominantly as a feminine name since the mid-20th century. Its peak popularity occurred in the late 1980s and 1990s, though it remains a recognized traditional name today.
Popularity in the United States
24,171 babies in the United States have been named Hilary since 1880. It ranks #934 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1893.
States where it is most popular
- CA (15.7 %)
- NY (10.1 %)
- TX (6.7 %)
- PA (5.5 %)
- IL (4.9 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 20 |
| 1920-1930 | 38 |
| 1930-1940 | 77 |
| 1940-1950 | 424 |
| 1950-1960 | 1,289 |
| 1960-1970 | 2,411 |
| 1970-1980 | 4,951 |
| 1980-1990 | 8,337 |
| 1990-2000 | 4,553 |
| 2000-2010 | 1,362 |
| 2010-2019 | 501 |
| 2020-2029 | 208 |
Famous people named Hilary
- Hilary Duff: Actress, Singer
- Hilary Swank: Actress, Producer
- Hilary Mantel: Author, Novelist
Nicknames
Hils, Hillie
Fun facts
- The name originates from the Ancient Greek word hilaros, which also gave rise to the English word hilarious.
- Hilary was predominantly a masculine name in the Middle Ages before gradually shifting toward feminine usage in the English-speaking world.