Hilarie
A feminine name of French origin meaning "cheerful" or "joyful".
Name Census estimates that about 667 living Americans carry the first name Hilarie. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Hilarie today is around 50 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Hilarie births was 1981 (32 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Hilarie. 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
667
~ 1 in 513,875 Americans
Peak year
1981
32 babies that year
Average age
50
years old
2008 SSA rank
#18,548
Tracked since 1948
Popularity
Hilarie: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Hilarie from the 1940s through to the 2000s, spanning 7 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1970s, with 218 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1970s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Hilarie 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 Hilarie during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Hilaries live
The SSA's state-level files cover 3 states and territories. New York, Texas, California recorded the most babies named Hilarie, while California, Texas, New York recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 12 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Hilarie
The name Hilarie originates from the Latin name Hilarius, which itself is derived from the Latin word "hilaris" meaning "cheerful" or "merry." This name has its roots in ancient Roman culture, where it was likely used as a nickname or personal name to describe someone with a jovial or happy demeanor.
The earliest recorded use of the name Hilarius dates back to the 3rd century CE, when it was borne by several early Christian saints and martyrs. One of the most notable figures was Saint Hilarius of Poitiers (c. 310–367 CE), a Bishop and Doctor of the Church known for his defense of Trinitarian doctrine against the Arian heresy.
Another significant bearer of the name was Pope Hilarius (461–468 CE), who played a crucial role in resolving the Monophysite controversy and helped establish the authority of the Roman See over the Eastern churches. His papacy marked a period of reconciliation and stability within the early Church.
In the Middle Ages, the name Hilarie appeared in various forms, such as Hilary, Hilarie, and Hilarius, among the nobility and clergy across Europe. One notable example is Hilarius of Arles (c. 401–449 CE), a renowned theologian and Bishop of Arles who wrote extensively on the Trinity and the Incarnation.
During the Renaissance period, the name Hilarie gained popularity, particularly in England and France. One famous bearer was Hilaire Belloc (1870–1953), a renowned Anglo-French writer and historian known for his celebrated works, including "The Path to Rome" and "The Servile State."
Another notable figure was Hilaire Desjardins (1835–1913), a French-Canadian journalist and politician who played a significant role in the cooperative movement in Quebec and founded the Desjardins Group, one of the largest financial institutions in Canada.
In more recent history, the name Hilarie has been borne by several accomplished individuals, such as Hilarie Burton (born 1982), an American actress known for her roles in "One Tree Hill" and "White Collar," and Hilarie Reis (born 1960), an American actress and singer best known for her portrayal of Sonya Walger on the television series "Thirtysomething."
While the name Hilarie has origins in ancient Roman culture and has been borne by notable figures throughout history, it has maintained its association with cheerfulness and merriment, reflecting the enduring appeal of its etymological roots.
Notable bearers
Famous people named Hilarie
People
Hilarie + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Hilarie as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with H
Other first names starting with H with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Hilarie: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Hilarie?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 667 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Hilarie 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 513,875 US residents.
Is Hilarie a common name?
We classify Hilarie as "Very Rare". It ranks above 87.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 771 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Hilarie most popular?
The single biggest year for Hilarie was 1981, when 32 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Hilarie is about 50 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Hilarie a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Hilarie in the SSA data are female. 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.