Hillary Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: HIL-uh-ree //ˈhɪləri//
Origin: English; Latin
Meaning: English: cheerful; Latin: from the island of Hilaria
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Hillary has its roots in the Latin name "Hilarius," which means "cheerful" or "happy." This Latin form evolved from the Greek name "Hilaros," carrying the same meaning. The transition into English occurred through the Old French form "Hilaire," which was adopted into Middle English as "Hillary." The name has been used in various forms across different cultures, often associated with positive connotations of joy and happiness.
Historically, the name Hillary has been borne by several notable figures, including Saint Hilary of Poitiers, a prominent theologian and bishop in the 4th century, who was recognized for his defense of Christian doctrine against Arianism. His feast day is celebrated on January 13, and he is regarded as a Doctor of the Church.
The name gained further recognition through its association with various medieval saints and figures, contributing to its enduring presence in Christian contexts. Culturally, the name Hillary has been linked to themes of resilience and optimism, reflecting its etymological roots.
In literature and historical texts, names derived from "Hilarius" have often been used to symbolize joy and lightness of spirit. The name has also seen variations and diminutives, such as "Hilly," which have been used affectionately in familial contexts.
Overall, the name Hillary carries a legacy of positivity and has been embraced in various cultures throughout history.
Famous people named Hillary
In this section, you will find notable people named Hillary. 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 Hillary who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Hillary 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.
Hillary Clinton is an author and public speaker best known for Living History, Hard Choices, and What Happened.
Fictional characters named Hillary
The following list of fictional characters named Hillary 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.
Hillary is a fictional character from the TV series The Good Wife. She is a law student who becomes an intern at a prestigious law firm, navigating the complexities of legal and personal challenges.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Hillary, 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 Hillary. 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 Hillary was first seen in the United States in 1888.
Hillary has ranked as high as #265 nationally, which occurred in 1992, and has been most popular in California, New York, Texas, Illinois, and Florida.
In the past 5 years the name Hillary has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Hillary 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 Hillary was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
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 Hillary.
| Year | Total Births | Boy | Girl |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 67 | 0 | 67 |
| 2024 | 79 | 0 | 79 |
| 2023 | 72 | 0 | 72 |
| 2022 | 73 | 0 | 73 |
| 2021 | 60 | 0 | 60 |
| 2020 | 52 | 0 | 52 |
| 2019 | 45 | 0 | 45 |
| 2018 | 49 | 0 | 49 |
| 2017 | 63 | 0 | 63 |
| 2016 | 172 | 0 | 172 |
| 2015 | 138 | 0 | 138 |
| 2014 | 177 | 0 | 177 |
| 2013 | 154 | 0 | 154 |
| 2012 | 157 | 0 | 157 |
| 2011 | 166 | 0 | 166 |
| 2010 | 168 | 0 | 168 |
| 2009 | 200 | 0 | 200 |
| 2008 | 418 | 6 | 412 |
| 2007 | 282 | 0 | 282 |
| 2006 | 265 | 0 | 265 |
| 2005 | 285 | 0 | 285 |
| 2004 | 311 | 0 | 311 |
| 2003 | 231 | 6 | 225 |
| 2002 | 202 | 5 | 197 |
| 2001 | 259 | 0 | 259 |
| 2000 | 252 | 0 | 252 |
| 1999 | 259 | 5 | 254 |
| 1998 | 243 | 0 | 243 |
| 1997 | 294 | 0 | 294 |
| 1996 | 312 | 0 | 312 |
| 1995 | 310 | 0 | 310 |
| 1994 | 416 | 7 | 409 |
| 1993 | 1,071 | 7 | 1,064 |
| 1992 | 2,527 | 7 | 2,520 |
| 1991 | 1,796 | 5 | 1,791 |
| 1990 | 1,525 | 0 | 1,525 |
| 1989 | 1,298 | 14 | 1,284 |
| 1988 | 1,097 | 13 | 1,084 |
| 1987 | 1,089 | 10 | 1,079 |
| 1986 | 1,094 | 11 | 1,083 |
| 1985 | 1,059 | 12 | 1,047 |
| 1984 | 1,015 | 6 | 1,009 |
| 1983 | 702 | 5 | 697 |
| 1982 | 760 | 6 | 754 |
| 1981 | 749 | 14 | 735 |
| 1980 | 846 | 11 | 835 |
| 1979 | 934 | 13 | 921 |
| 1978 | 738 | 19 | 719 |
| 1977 | 454 | 12 | 442 |
| 1976 | 340 | 9 | 331 |
| 1975 | 332 | 10 | 322 |
| 1974 | 322 | 10 | 312 |
| 1973 | 259 | 7 | 252 |
| 1972 | 257 | 15 | 242 |
| 1971 | 264 | 13 | 251 |
| 1970 | 268 | 11 | 257 |
| 1969 | 212 | 14 | 198 |
| 1968 | 191 | 13 | 178 |
| 1967 | 163 | 8 | 155 |
| 1966 | 139 | 15 | 124 |
| 1965 | 126 | 15 | 111 |
| 1964 | 140 | 8 | 132 |
| 1963 | 166 | 18 | 148 |
| 1962 | 129 | 17 | 112 |
| 1961 | 128 | 17 | 111 |
| 1960 | 91 | 16 | 75 |
| 1959 | 94 | 11 | 83 |
| 1958 | 116 | 22 | 94 |
| 1957 | 106 | 17 | 89 |
| 1956 | 112 | 13 | 99 |
| 1955 | 94 | 23 | 71 |
| 1954 | 104 | 27 | 77 |
| 1953 | 78 | 20 | 58 |
| 1952 | 59 | 16 | 43 |
| 1951 | 58 | 18 | 40 |
| 1950 | 74 | 20 | 54 |
| 1949 | 61 | 13 | 48 |
| 1948 | 62 | 19 | 43 |
| 1947 | 65 | 14 | 51 |
| 1946 | 49 | 20 | 29 |
| 1945 | 34 | 16 | 18 |
| 1944 | 36 | 17 | 19 |
| 1943 | 21 | 8 | 13 |
| 1942 | 21 | 14 | 7 |
| 1941 | 18 | 18 | 0 |
| 1940 | 19 | 19 | 0 |
| 1939 | 18 | 18 | 0 |
| 1938 | 19 | 19 | 0 |
| 1937 | 15 | 15 | 0 |
| 1936 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1935 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1934 | 14 | 14 | 0 |
| 1933 | 13 | 13 | 0 |
| 1932 | 15 | 15 | 0 |
| 1931 | 14 | 14 | 0 |
| 1930 | 19 | 19 | 0 |
| 1929 | 15 | 15 | 0 |
| 1928 | 24 | 24 | 0 |
| 1927 | 24 | 24 | 0 |
| 1926 | 21 | 21 | 0 |
| 1925 | 20 | 20 | 0 |
| 1924 | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| 1923 | 19 | 19 | 0 |
| 1922 | 23 | 18 | 5 |
| 1921 | 21 | 21 | 0 |
| 1920 | 18 | 18 | 0 |
| 1919 | 15 | 15 | 0 |
| 1918 | 18 | 18 | 0 |
| 1917 | 15 | 15 | 0 |
| 1916 | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| 1915 | 18 | 18 | 0 |
| 1914 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1913 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1912 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1911 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1910 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1909 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1908 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1907 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1903 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1898 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1897 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1890 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1889 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1888 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
Top States for Hillary (2024)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| CA | 10 | |
| TX | 9 | |
| NY | 8 | |
| NJ | 5 | |
| MA | 5 |