Hilary
Hilary is a boy's name of Greek origin.
Meaning
Cheerful, joyful, or merry.
Origin and history
Hilary is derived from the Latin Hilarius, which comes from the Greek word Hilaros meaning joyful or cheerful. While historically used for both males and females, its usage for males in the U.S. was primarily in the early 20th century and has become very rare today. It remains a classic name with strong historical and early Christian ties.
Popularity in the United States
2,197 babies in the United States have been named Hilary since 1880. It ranks #2755 all-time.
States where it is most popular
- NY (27.7 %)
- WI (21.2 %)
- PA (13.9 %)
- IL (8.7 %)
- MN (7.4 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 20 |
| 1890-1900 | 24 |
| 1900-1910 | 36 |
| 1910-1920 | 291 |
| 1920-1930 | 428 |
| 1930-1940 | 326 |
| 1940-1950 | 308 |
| 1950-1960 | 325 |
| 1960-1970 | 166 |
| 1970-1980 | 132 |
| 1980-1990 | 111 |
| 1990-2000 | 25 |
| 2000-2010 | 0 |
| 2010-2019 | 5 |
| 2020-2029 | 0 |
Famous people named Hilary
- Hilary Putnam: Philosopher, Mathematician
Nicknames
Hil, Hill
Fun facts
- The name stems from the Greek word hilaros, which is also the root for the English word hilarious.
- Hilary was predominantly a male name throughout the Middle Ages and early modern period before becoming more common for females in the mid-20th century.