Hilary
Hilary: name meaning, origin and popularity
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈhɪləɹi/
Meaning and origin of Hilary
Root meaning: “cheerful, happy”
- A male given name from Latin.
- A female given name from Latin.
Etymology
From Latin Hilarius (“cheerful, happy”), name of a fourth-century saint, and from its feminine form Hilaria.
How popular is Hilary?
Since 1880, 24,171 girls and 2,197 boys in the U.S. have been named Hilary (92% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #232 in 1990. Its highest rank for boys was #733 in 1891. In 2025, 24 babies were given the name, outside the top 1,000.
Names similar to Hilary
Names that start with the same letters, most popular first.
More Latin girl names
Sibling name ideas for Hilary
Sister and brother names that share Hilary's Latin roots and are still in the U.S. top 1,000.
Hilary FAQ
What does the name Hilary mean?
Hilary traces back to a root meaning "cheerful, happy". A male given name from Latin. A female given name from Latin. From Latin Hilarius (“cheerful, happy”), name of a fourth-century saint, and from its feminine form Hilaria.
What is the origin of the name Hilary?
Hilary is listed as a name of Latin origin.
How popular is the name Hilary?
Since 1880, 24,171 girls and 2,197 boys in the U.S. have been named Hilary (92% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #232 in 1990. Its highest rank for boys was #733 in 1891. In 2025, 24 babies were given the name, outside the top 1,000.
Is Hilary a boy or girl name?
Hilary is mostly a girl name in the U.S.: 24,171 girls and 2,197 boys since 1880.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880–2025 (names given to 5+ babies per year). Origin and etymology text: Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.