Dillard Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: DIL-erd //ˈdɪl.ərd//
Origin: English; French
Meaning: English: from the dyke; French: of the valley
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Dillard has its roots in the Old French surname "Dillard," which is derived from the Germanic elements "diot," meaning "people," and "hard," meaning "brave" or "strong." This surname made its way into England following the Norman Conquest of 1066, when many French names were adopted by the English nobility and commoners alike. The transition from a surname to a given name occurred in the 19th century, reflecting a broader trend of using surnames as first names during this period.
Historically, the name Dillard can be linked to various notable figures and events. One significant milestone is its appearance in medieval records, where individuals bearing the surname were documented in England and France.
The name has also been associated with various regions in England, particularly in the context of land ownership and feudal systems. While there are no prominent biblical figures or saints directly associated with the name, its Germanic roots connect it to the broader tradition of names that emphasize strength and community.
Culturally, Dillard carries connotations of bravery and resilience, qualities that have made it a lasting choice among families. The name's association with strength resonates through its etymological roots, which highlight the importance of community and valor.
Additionally, diminutive forms or variations of the name, such as Dill, have emerged in various contexts, further enriching its cultural tapestry. Overall, Dillard reflects a blend of linguistic heritage and historical significance, embodying qualities that have contributed to its endurance over the centuries.
Famous people named Dillard
In this section, you will find notable people named Dillard. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Dillard who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Dillard who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Dillard University is a historically black university best known for its commitment to liberal arts education and producing notable alumni.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Dillard, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Dillard. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Dillard was first seen in the United States in 1880.
Dillard has ranked as high as #788 nationally, which occurred in 1921, and has been most popular in Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia, and Texas.
In the past 5 years the name Dillard has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Dillard is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Dillard was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Dillard (1968)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| KY | 5 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Dillard.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2014 | 5 |
| 2012 | 6 |
| 2010 | 5 |
| 2007 | 6 |
| 2005 | 8 |
| 2004 | 5 |
| 2003 | 8 |
| 2002 | 8 |
| 2001 | 6 |
| 1999 | 7 |
| 1998 | 10 |
| 1997 | 7 |
| 1996 | 8 |
| 1995 | 7 |
| 1994 | 10 |
| 1993 | 10 |
| 1992 | 17 |
| 1991 | 13 |
| 1990 | 13 |
| 1988 | 7 |
| 1987 | 7 |
| 1986 | 5 |
| 1984 | 10 |
| 1983 | 13 |
| 1982 | 7 |
| 1981 | 11 |
| 1980 | 12 |
| 1979 | 13 |
| 1978 | 6 |
| 1977 | 11 |
| 1976 | 9 |
| 1975 | 18 |
| 1974 | 14 |
| 1973 | 16 |
| 1972 | 12 |
| 1971 | 16 |
| 1970 | 24 |
| 1969 | 20 |
| 1968 | 19 |
| 1967 | 21 |
| 1966 | 18 |
| 1965 | 18 |
| 1964 | 23 |
| 1963 | 24 |
| 1962 | 21 |
| 1961 | 30 |
| 1960 | 36 |
| 1959 | 27 |
| 1958 | 36 |
| 1957 | 39 |
| 1956 | 38 |
| 1955 | 44 |
| 1954 | 35 |
| 1953 | 43 |
| 1952 | 30 |
| 1951 | 34 |
| 1950 | 36 |
| 1949 | 45 |
| 1948 | 47 |
| 1947 | 53 |
| 1946 | 62 |
| 1945 | 51 |
| 1944 | 67 |
| 1943 | 61 |
| 1942 | 59 |
| 1941 | 52 |
| 1940 | 51 |
| 1939 | 64 |
| 1938 | 57 |
| 1937 | 66 |
| 1936 | 57 |
| 1935 | 73 |
| 1934 | 82 |
| 1933 | 65 |
| 1932 | 70 |
| 1931 | 63 |
| 1930 | 76 |
| 1929 | 76 |
| 1928 | 83 |
| 1927 | 70 |
| 1926 | 68 |
| 1925 | 89 |
| 1924 | 85 |
| 1923 | 88 |
| 1922 | 74 |
| 1921 | 96 |
| 1920 | 87 |
| 1919 | 76 |
| 1918 | 76 |
| 1917 | 61 |
| 1916 | 41 |
| 1915 | 55 |
| 1914 | 37 |
| 1913 | 31 |
| 1912 | 37 |
| 1911 | 17 |
| 1910 | 9 |
| 1909 | 16 |
| 1908 | 19 |
| 1907 | 18 |
| 1906 | 11 |
| 1905 | 11 |
| 1904 | 8 |
| 1903 | 7 |
| 1902 | 14 |
| 1901 | 11 |
| 1900 | 17 |
| 1899 | 11 |
| 1898 | 14 |
| 1897 | 9 |
| 1896 | 7 |
| 1895 | 6 |
| 1894 | 5 |
| 1893 | 9 |
| 1892 | 12 |
| 1889 | 5 |
| 1888 | 11 |
| 1887 | 10 |
| 1886 | 8 |
| 1885 | 7 |
| 1884 | 6 |
| 1883 | 10 |
| 1882 | 10 |
| 1881 | 9 |
| 1880 | 10 |