Hillary
Hillary is a girl's name of Greek origin.
Meaning
Cheerful, happy, or joyful.
Origin and history
Hillary is derived from the Latin name Hilarius, which comes from the Greek word hilaros, meaning cheerful or glad. Historically common as a masculine given name, it transitioned to a predominantly feminine name in the mid-20th century in the United States. Its peak popularity occurred during the late 20th century.
Popularity in the United States
29,043 babies in the United States have been named Hillary since 1880. It ranks #849 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1698.
States where it is most popular
- CA (13.2 %)
- NY (9.4 %)
- TX (8.6 %)
- IL (4.8 %)
- FL (4 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 0 |
| 1920-1930 | 5 |
| 1930-1940 | 0 |
| 1940-1950 | 228 |
| 1950-1960 | 708 |
| 1960-1970 | 1,344 |
| 1970-1980 | 4,049 |
| 1980-1990 | 9,607 |
| 1990-2000 | 8,722 |
| 2000-2010 | 2,688 |
| 2010-2019 | 1,289 |
| 2020-2029 | 403 |
Famous people named Hillary
- Hillary Clinton: Politician, Diplomat
- Hillary Swank: Actress, Producer
- Hillary Scott: Singer, Songwriter
Nicknames
Hill, Hillie
Fun facts
- Historically spelled with both single 'l' (Hilary) and double 'l' (Hillary), with the double-l spelling becoming more prevalent for females in the modern United States.
- Originally a predominantly masculine name in medieval and early modern times, Hillary gained broad usage as a feminine name in the 20th century.