Hildred Unisex
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: HIL-dred //ˈhɪl.drɛd//
Origin: Old English; Germanic
Meaning: Old English: battle counsel; Germanic: noble strength
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Hildred has its roots in Old English, deriving from the elements "hild" meaning "battle" and "ræd" meaning "counsel" or "advice." This etymological composition reflects a warrior ethos, suggesting a person who provides counsel in battle. The name evolved through various forms, with its earliest recorded instances appearing in the Anglo-Saxon period.
It was later influenced by the Norman Conquest in the 11th century, which introduced additional linguistic elements into the English language, although Hildred itself remained relatively stable in its form and meaning. Historically, Hildred is associated with several notable figures, including saints and nobles in medieval England.
One of the most prominent was Saint Hildred, an early Christian figure who lived during the 7th century and was known for his piety and leadership in the church. His legacy contributed to the name's significance in ecclesiastical contexts.
Additionally, the name appears in various historical records, including charters and legal documents from the Anglo-Saxon period, which further solidified its presence in the cultural landscape of early England. Culturally, Hildred embodies themes of strength and wisdom, resonating with the values of leadership and bravery that were esteemed in medieval society.
The name has been used in various literary and historical contexts, often symbolizing a noble character or a wise leader. While diminutive forms such as Hildy may exist, they are less documented in historical texts.
Overall, Hildred's enduring qualities reflect a blend of martial valor and sagacious counsel, making it a name of historical significance in the English-speaking world.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Hildred, 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 Hildred. 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 Hildred was first seen in the United States in 1911.
Hildred has ranked as high as #891 nationally, which occurred in 1923, and has been most popular in Tennessee.
In the past 5 years the name Hildred has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Hildred 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 Hildred was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Hildred (1918)
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 |
|---|---|---|
| TN | 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 Hildred.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 1963 | 6 |
| 1962 | 5 |
| 1959 | 5 |
| 1957 | 7 |
| 1954 | 6 |
| 1951 | 10 |
| 1950 | 7 |
| 1949 | 6 |
| 1948 | 8 |
| 1947 | 9 |
| 1946 | 6 |
| 1945 | 6 |
| 1944 | 5 |
| 1943 | 5 |
| 1942 | 7 |
| 1941 | 10 |
| 1940 | 10 |
| 1939 | 10 |
| 1938 | 7 |
| 1937 | 7 |
| 1936 | 7 |
| 1935 | 15 |
| 1934 | 10 |
| 1933 | 9 |
| 1932 | 16 |
| 1931 | 11 |
| 1930 | 10 |
| 1929 | 6 |
| 1928 | 14 |
| 1927 | 6 |
| 1926 | 12 |
| 1925 | 11 |
| 1924 | 13 |
| 1923 | 19 |
| 1922 | 15 |
| 1921 | 15 |
| 1920 | 15 |
| 1919 | 10 |
| 1918 | 14 |
| 1917 | 10 |
| 1916 | 7 |
| 1915 | 5 |
| 1914 | 10 |
| 1913 | 9 |
| 1912 | 5 |
| 1911 | 5 |