Find out how popular the first name Hildegard has been for the last 10 years (from 2014 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Hildegard by gender

Based on the last 10 years of data, Hildegard is exclusively a female name.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 19 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Hildegard.

The history of the first name Hildegard

The name Hildegard has its origins in the Germanic languages, tracing back to the 8th century AD. It is a compound name, formed from the elements "hild" meaning "battle" and "gard" meaning "guard" or "enclosure". Thus, the name can be interpreted to mean "battle guard" or "one who guards in battle".

The earliest known bearer of the name Hildegard was Hildegard of Vintzgouw, a Frankish noblewoman who lived in the 8th century. She was the wife of Charlemagne, the renowned king of the Franks and the first Holy Roman Emperor.

Hildegard gained particular prominence as a name due to Saint Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179), a German Benedictine abbess, writer, composer, philosopher, and visionary. She is one of the most celebrated figures of the Middle Ages and is known for her extensive writings on theology, medicine, and natural sciences.

Another notable figure in history with the name Hildegard was Hildegard of Burgau (1163-1195), a German noblewoman who was the wife of Frederick VI, Duke of Swabia. She played a significant role in the politics of the Holy Roman Empire during the 12th century.

In the 16th century, Hildegard of Bavaria (1532-1594) was a prominent figure in the German Renaissance. She was a Princess of Bavaria and served as the Regent of Bavaria from 1579 to 1597.

The name Hildegard also has literary connections, as it was borne by the character Hildegard Gostkowski in the 1920s novels of the Polish writer Zofia Nałkowska, who is considered one of the most influential figures in Polish literature.

While the name Hildegard has its roots in the Germanic languages, it has been used across various cultures and regions throughout history, with bearers from Germany, France, Italy, and beyond. The name's strong and powerful meaning, combined with its association with influential historical figures, has contributed to its enduring popularity over the centuries.

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 Hildegard was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!