Gilmer
Strong or resolute warrior, derived from Old English elements.
Name Census estimates that about 383 living Americans carry the first name Gilmer. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Gilmer today is around 61 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Gilmer births was 1918 (44 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Gilmer. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
383
~ 1 in 894,920 Americans
Peak year
1918
44 babies that year
Average age
61
years old
2024 SSA rank
#10,200
Tracked since 1907
Popularity
Gilmer: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Gilmer from the 1900s through to the 2020s, spanning 12 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1920s, with 291 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1920s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Gilmer by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Gilmer during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Gilmers live
The SSA's state-level files cover 4 states and territories. North Carolina, Virginia, Texas recorded the most babies named Gilmer, while West Virginia, Texas, Virginia recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 101 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Gilmer
The name Gilmer has its origins in the Old English language, tracing back to the 5th century. It is derived from the Old English words "gil," meaning "ravine" or "deep valley," and "mere," meaning "lake" or "pool." The name was commonly used in Anglo-Saxon England, particularly in regions with rugged landscapes and bodies of water.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Gilmer can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appears in various spellings, including Gylmere and Gylmor, indicating its widespread use during the Norman period.
In the 12th century, the name Gilmer gained prominence through its association with the Gilmerton family, a powerful noble clan in Scotland. Sir John de Gilmerton, born in 1170, was a renowned knight and landowner who played a significant role in the Scottish Wars of Independence against England. His descendants continued to bear the name for several generations.
During the Middle Ages, the name Gilmer was also found in religious texts and chronicles. The Venerable Bede, an 8th-century English monk and scholar, mentioned a monk named Gilmer in his famous work, "Ecclesiastical History of the English People." This reference suggests that the name was in use among the clergy at that time.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Gilmer. One such figure was Gilmer Tunstall (c. 1530-1616), an English politician and landowner who served as the High Sheriff of Norfolk. Another prominent bearer of the name was Gilmer Brenghausen (1609-1688), a Dutch merchant and shipping magnate who established a successful trading company in Amsterdam.
In the 18th century, Gilmer Petrie (1745-1819) was a Scottish philosopher and educator who made significant contributions to the field of moral philosophy. His teachings and writings influenced generations of scholars and intellectuals.
The 19th century saw the rise of Gilmer Pearce (1810-1892), an American lawyer and politician who served as a United States Senator from Maryland. He was a prominent figure in the Democratic Party and played a pivotal role in shaping the nation's political landscape during his time in office.
One of the most recent historical figures with the name Gilmer was Gilmer B. Frost (1892-1967), an American military officer who served in both World Wars. He distinguished himself with his leadership and strategic abilities, earning numerous honors and decorations for his service.
People
Gilmer + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Gilmer as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with G
Other first names starting with G with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Gilmer: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Gilmer?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 383 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Gilmer going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 894,920 US residents.
Is Gilmer a common name?
We classify Gilmer as "Very Rare". It ranks above 81.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 1,187 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Gilmer most popular?
The single biggest year for Gilmer was 1918, when 44 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Gilmer is about 61 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Gilmer a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Gilmer in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.