Hilary Unisex
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: HIL-uh-ree //ˈhɪləri//
Origin: Latin; English
Meaning: Latin: cheerful; English: from the name Hilarius
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Hilary has its roots in the Latin name "Hilarius," which means "cheerful" or "joyful." This name was derived from the Latin word "hilaris," which carries the same meaning. The transition into English occurred through Old French, where the name was adapted as "Hilaire" before entering the English lexicon as "Hilary." The name has been used in various forms across different cultures, but its core meaning of joyfulness has remained consistent throughout its history.
Historically, the name Hilary has been borne by several notable figures, particularly in the Christian tradition. One prominent example is Saint Hilary of Poitiers, a bishop and theologian from the 4th century, who was known for his defense of the Nicene Creed against Arianism.
His contributions to early Christian thought were significant, and he was later declared a Doctor of the Church. The name also appears in various historical texts and translations, including the Vulgate, the Latin version of the Bible, which was completed in the late 4th century and has influenced Christian naming conventions.
Culturally, the name Hilary has been associated with themes of joy and light-heartedness, reflecting its etymological roots. The name has been used in various literary and artistic contexts, often symbolizing hope and positivity.
Additionally, the diminutive form "Hillary" has emerged as a variant, though it is less common in historical texts. The enduring nature of the name can be attributed to its positive connotations and its association with significant religious figures, which have helped it maintain a place in various cultural narratives.
Famous people named Hilary
In this section, you will find notable people named Hilary. 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 Hilary who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Hilary 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.
Hilary Swank is an actress best known for Boys Don't Cry, Million Dollar Baby, and The Homesman.
Hilary Duff is an actress and singer best known for Lizzie McGuire, A Cinderella Story, and Younger.
Fictional characters named Hilary
The following list of fictional characters named Hilary is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Hilary Banks is a fictional character from the TV show The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. She is the fashionable and sometimes spoiled cousin of the main character, Will Smith.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Hilary, 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 Hilary. 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 Hilary was first seen in the United States in 1914.
Hilary has ranked as high as #450 nationally, which occurred in 1990, and has been most popular in California, New York, Texas, Pennsylvania, and Illinois.
In the past 5 years the name Hilary has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Hilary 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 Hilary was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Hilary (2024)
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 |
|---|---|---|
| TX | 7 |
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 Hilary.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 35 |
| 2023 | 60 |
| 2022 | 45 |
| 2021 | 20 |
| 2020 | 22 |
| 2019 | 31 |
| 2018 | 11 |
| 2017 | 16 |
| 2016 | 27 |
| 2015 | 56 |
| 2014 | 60 |
| 2013 | 66 |
| 2012 | 75 |
| 2011 | 79 |
| 2010 | 80 |
| 2009 | 87 |
| 2008 | 101 |
| 2007 | 164 |
| 2006 | 218 |
| 2005 | 219 |
| 2004 | 196 |
| 2003 | 110 |
| 2002 | 96 |
| 2001 | 84 |
| 2000 | 87 |
| 1999 | 81 |
| 1998 | 92 |
| 1997 | 106 |
| 1996 | 123 |
| 1995 | 125 |
| 1994 | 145 |
| 1993 | 344 |
| 1992 | 1,170 |
| 1991 | 1,149 |
| 1990 | 1,217 |
| 1989 | 1,026 |
| 1988 | 976 |
| 1987 | 873 |
| 1986 | 909 |
| 1985 | 1,054 |
| 1984 | 877 |
| 1983 | 655 |
| 1982 | 601 |
| 1981 | 625 |
| 1980 | 741 |
| 1979 | 882 |
| 1978 | 763 |
| 1977 | 580 |
| 1976 | 437 |
| 1975 | 452 |
| 1974 | 426 |
| 1973 | 375 |
| 1972 | 333 |
| 1971 | 348 |
| 1970 | 355 |
| 1969 | 347 |
| 1968 | 253 |
| 1967 | 234 |
| 1966 | 253 |
| 1965 | 247 |
| 1964 | 257 |
| 1963 | 250 |
| 1962 | 200 |
| 1961 | 206 |
| 1960 | 164 |
| 1959 | 146 |
| 1958 | 128 |
| 1957 | 173 |
| 1956 | 162 |
| 1955 | 138 |
| 1954 | 116 |
| 1953 | 114 |
| 1952 | 100 |
| 1951 | 103 |
| 1950 | 109 |
| 1949 | 86 |
| 1948 | 61 |
| 1947 | 62 |
| 1946 | 38 |
| 1945 | 45 |
| 1944 | 33 |
| 1943 | 27 |
| 1942 | 36 |
| 1941 | 24 |
| 1940 | 12 |
| 1939 | 8 |
| 1938 | 8 |
| 1937 | 12 |
| 1936 | 9 |
| 1935 | 11 |
| 1933 | 6 |
| 1932 | 9 |
| 1931 | 6 |
| 1930 | 8 |
| 1929 | 5 |
| 1927 | 8 |
| 1926 | 8 |
| 1924 | 5 |
| 1923 | 6 |
| 1920 | 6 |
| 1919 | 9 |
| 1918 | 6 |
| 1914 | 5 |