Hilary

Q: What is the origin of Hilary?

Hilary is of Latin origin. The name carries significant cultural meaning and has been used across generations within its origin tradition.

Q: How popular is the name Hilary?

According to the latest SSA data, Hilary is currently ranked #999999 in the United States. The popularity of this name has evolved over the past century based on cultural preferences and naming trends.

Q: Is Hilary a boy name?

Hilary is traditionally a boy name. Modern naming practices are increasingly flexible, and names can be used across genders based on personal choice and cultural context.

male

Updated 6 months ago

Meaning

"Cheerful"

From Latin hilaris meaning cheerful, it has historical use for multiple genders and appears in ecclesiastical contexts.

Themes:latinvirtueunisexhistory

Unique Rare

Fact-checked by Lily Anderson

M.F.A. Creative Writing, Sarah LawrencePublished NovelistName Collection Curator • Creative Names Editor

This name has been verified against authoritative sources including SSA data, etymology databases, and cultural naming traditions.

Popularity History of Hilary

Full SSA rank history from 1880 to 2024

UnrankedNot ranked in 2024

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Yearly Ranking Snapshot

Pick any SSA release year to inspect that year's national ranking and how it changed from the year before.

Year

Selected Year Rank

Unranked

Hilary did not appear in the national SSA rankings for 2024.

Change Vs Previous Year

no national rank in 2024

Data Source

Popularity rankings are based on official data from the Social Security Administration (SSA), which tracks baby name applications in the United States.

Last updated: 2024 • Data source updated annually

Hilary Nicknames

Familiar short forms, playful variations, and easy everyday options for Hilary.

8 ideas

hila

Nickname

hily

Nickname

lary

Nickname

aryy

Nickname

hie

Nickname

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Baby Name Lists That Include Hilary

Browse every Namylab list page that currently includes Hilary, from meaning and origin collections to letter, syllable, and themed baby name lists.

13 linked lists

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

What does the name Hilary mean?

Hilary means "Cheerful". From Latin hilaris meaning cheerful, it has historical use for multiple genders and appears in ecclesiastical contexts.

What is the origin of Hilary?

Hilary is of Latin origin. The name has been used historically across cultures and carries significant cultural meaning within its origin tradition.

How popular is the name Hilary?

According to the latest SSA data, Hilary is currently not ranked in the United States. The name has shown interesting trends over the past century, with popularity varying based on cultural preferences and naming trends.

Is Hilary a boy name?

Hilary is traditionally a boy name. However, modern naming practices are increasingly flexible, and names can be used across genders based on personal preference.

What are good nicknames for Hilary?

Popular nicknames for Hilary include hila, hily, lary, aryy, and more. These offer shorter, more casual alternatives for everyday use.

What names are similar to Hilary?

There are many names similar to Hilary in meaning, origin, or sound. Explore the Similar Names section to discover alternatives that may resonate with you.

Quick Facts

OriginLatin, English

Syllables3

Length6 letters

Trend→ Stable

Starts withH

Sibling Ideas

Brothers

Anton Antony Austen Antone Artis

Sisters

Antonia Alta Avis Augusta Adrian

Explore More Boy Names Like Hilary

Hilary has Latin roots, making it a wonderful choice if you love names from this heritage. Discover more options in our Latin baby names collection, where you'll find hundreds of names with similar cultural depth.

Hilary appears in several of our curated collections. Check out Unique Baby Names and Latin Baby Names for more names with a similar feel. You might also enjoy browsing Traditional English Names and Names That Mean Miracle And Blessing for Boys and Girls.

Before you decide, try our Full Name Preview to see how Hilary pairs with your surname. The Sibling Name Matcher can help find names that complement Hilary beautifully, and the Nickname Predictor reveals the most common short forms.

Explore our full baby name lists for origin-based, meaning-based, and themed collections, or head back to the baby name generator to continue your search.