Find out how popular the first name Hilary has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Hilary by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Hilary is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 99% of people named Hilary being female.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 60 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Hilary.

The history of the first name Hilary

The name Hilary derives from the Latin name Hilarius, which means "cheerful" or "merry." The name gained popularity during the early Christian era, and its origins can be traced back to ancient Rome.

In the 4th century, St. Hilary of Poitiers (c. 310-367), a renowned Bishop and Doctor of the Church, helped spread the name throughout the Christian world. His influential writings and theological works made him a significant figure in the history of the Catholic Church.

During the Middle Ages, the name Hilary was relatively common, particularly in England and France. One notable figure from this period was Hilary of Arles (c. 401-449), a French bishop and saint known for his efforts in promoting monasticism.

In the 12th century, Hilary of Chichester (c. 1109-1169), an English saint and Bishop of Chichester, was venerated for his piety and charitable works. His cult following helped further popularize the name in England.

In the Renaissance period, the name Hilary gained renewed interest. One prominent figure was Hilary Term (c. 1466-1535), an English jurist and lawyer who served as the Lord Chancellor of England under King Henry VIII.

During the 17th century, Hilary Prideaux (1648-1724) was an English churchman and scholar who made significant contributions to biblical studies and wrote a influential work titled "The Old and New Testament Connected in the History of the Jews and Neighbouring Nations."

Throughout history, the name Hilary has been borne by various notable individuals, including Hilary Mantel (1952-2023), a British writer and two-time winner of the Booker Prize; Hilary Clinton (born 1947), an American politician and former First Lady; Hilary Swank (born 1974), an American actress and two-time Academy Award winner; Hilary Duff (born 1987), an American actress and singer; and Hilary Hahn (born 1979), an American violinist and Grammy Award winner.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Hilary was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Hilary, please contact us.

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