Jillian Girl

Popularity: #771 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: JIL-ee-uhn /ˈdʒɪl.i.ən/

Origin: Latin; English

Meaning: Latin: youthful; English: youthful

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Jillian is derived from the Latin name "Juliana," which is a feminine form of the name "Julius." The root of these names can be traced back to the Roman family name "Julius," which is believed to be derived from the Latin word "iuvenalis," meaning "youthful" or "downy." The name made its way into English through Old French, where "Julienne" was a common form, and eventually evolved into Jillian in the English-speaking world, particularly gaining traction in the late 20th century. Historically, the name Juliana has been associated with several notable figures, including Saint Juliana of Nicomedia, who was martyred in the 4th century.

Her story was popularized in various hagiographies, contributing to the name's significance in Christian contexts. The name also appears in medieval texts and was used by nobility in various forms, including Juliana of Norwich, a 14th-century mystic known for her work "Revelations of Divine Love," which is one of the earliest known works in the English language written by a woman.

Culturally, Jillian and its variants have been embraced in literature and the arts, often symbolizing qualities such as youthfulness and vitality. The name has been associated with characters in various novels and films, reinforcing its positive connotations.

Additionally, diminutive forms like Jill have been used historically, showcasing the name's adaptability and endearment. Overall, Jillian carries a rich historical and cultural legacy that reflects its roots in ancient Roman naming traditions.

Famous people named Jillian

In this section, you will find notable people named Jillian. 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 Jillian who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Jillian 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.

Jillian Michaels is a personal trainer and television personality best known for The Biggest Loser, Losing It with Jillian, and her fitness DVDs.

Jillian Bell is an actress and comedian best known for Workaholics, Brittany Runs a Marathon, and 22 Jump Street.

Jillian Tamaki is an illustrator and cartoonist best known for This One Summer, SuperMutant Magic Academy, and Skim.

Fictional characters named Jillian

The following list of fictional characters named Jillian 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.

Jillian Holtzmann is a fictional character from the film Ghostbusters (2016). She is a quirky and inventive engineer who plays a crucial role in the team's ghost-fighting efforts.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Jillian, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

JulietJessicaJordanJasmineJocelynJade

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Jillian. 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.

GillianLillianCillianKilianDahliaMiriamCeciliaVivian

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Jillian was first seen in the United States in 1944.

Jillian has ranked as high as #196 nationally, which occurred in 1982, and has been most popular in New York, California, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Texas.

In the past 5 years the name Jillian has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Jillian 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 Jillian 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 Jillian.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 177 0 177
2024 214 0 214
2023 214 0 214
2022 232 0 232
2021 253 0 253
2020 267 0 267
2019 353 0 353
2018 383 0 383
2017 525 0 525
2016 602 0 602
2015 721 0 721
2014 848 0 848
2013 945 0 945
2012 1,102 0 1,102
2011 1,431 0 1,431
2010 1,820 0 1,820
2009 2,046 5 2,041
2008 1,905 0 1,905
2007 1,787 0 1,787
2006 2,010 6 2,004
2005 2,126 5 2,121
2004 2,187 8 2,179
2003 2,430 5 2,425
2002 2,734 0 2,734
2001 2,847 0 2,847
2000 2,789 10 2,779
1999 2,280 0 2,280
1998 2,015 0 2,015
1997 1,849 0 1,849
1996 1,462 0 1,462
1995 1,508 5 1,503
1994 1,547 5 1,542
1993 1,988 8 1,980
1992 2,041 0 2,041
1991 2,382 5 2,377
1990 2,689 13 2,676
1989 2,940 18 2,922
1988 2,756 10 2,746
1987 2,805 12 2,793
1986 2,599 12 2,587
1985 2,487 12 2,475
1984 2,638 14 2,624
1983 2,531 17 2,514
1982 3,070 14 3,056
1981 2,089 10 2,079
1980 1,659 9 1,650
1979 1,512 6 1,506
1978 1,347 8 1,339
1977 1,064 10 1,054
1976 255 0 255
1975 88 0 88
1974 84 0 84
1973 93 0 93
1972 101 0 101
1971 66 0 66
1970 75 0 75
1969 48 0 48
1968 78 0 78
1967 43 0 43
1966 31 0 31
1965 28 0 28
1964 32 0 32
1963 23 0 23
1962 22 0 22
1961 15 0 15
1960 13 0 13
1959 7 0 7
1958 6 0 6
1957 14 0 14
1956 12 0 12
1955 7 0 7
1954 10 0 10
1953 7 0 7
1952 11 0 11
1951 6 0 6
1950 6 0 6
1949 5 0 5
1948 12 0 12
1947 15 0 15
1944 5 0 5

Top States for Jillian (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
TX 17
10%
FL 15
9%
CA 14
9%
WA 13
8%
IN 12
7%
OH 11
7%
PA 11
7%
GA 9
6%
VA 9
6%
NC 8
5%
IL 8
5%
MO 7
4%
MI 7
4%
MA 6
4%
CO 5
3%
NY 5
3%
MN 5
3%