Girl
Gillian
youthful
About Gillian
Gillian represents a wonderful blend of classic British charm and contemporary accessibility. This name has demonstrated remarkable staying power across decades without ever becoming oversaturated. The strong initial consonant provides confidence, while the softer ending maintains approachability. Parents often appreciate its literary associations and intelligent sound without seeming overly academic. Pronunciation is straightforward in English-speaking countries, eliminating constant corrections. The nickname Gil offers a spunky alternative, while Gilly provides sweetness for younger years. This name works equally well in boardrooms and art studios, adapting seamlessly to various professional paths. Its familiarity means people recognize it immediately, yet it remains uncommon enough to feel special. The balanced syllables create natural rhythm in full name combinations. For families valuing names with history and substance that aren't overly trendy, Gillian consistently delivers timeless appeal.
Popularity of the Name Gillian
Rank among the 1,000 most popular baby names, by year.
| United States | United Kingdom | New Zealand | Ireland | Canada | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | #959 | #124 | #67 | ||
| 1969 | #946 | #104 | #73 | ||
| 1970 | #998 | #124 | #65 | ||
| 1972 | #950 | #150 | #34 | ||
| 1973 | #899 | #154 | #31 | ||
| 1977 | #885 | #341 | #27 | ||
| 1978 | #847 | #348 | #28 | ||
| 1979 | #878 | #31 | |||
| 1980 | #886 | #322 | #41 | ||
| 1981 | #745 | #256 | #40 | ||
| 1982 | #688 | #39 | |||
| 1983 | #728 | #41 | |||
| 1984 | #671 | #39 | |||
| 1985 | #738 | #49 | |||
| 1986 | #804 | #43 | |||
| 1987 | #694 | #43 | |||
| 1988 | #684 | #44 | |||
| 1989 | #747 | #45 | |||
| 1990 | #821 | #60 | |||
| 1991 | #923 | #55 | #219 | ||
| 1992 | #969 | #70 | #265 | ||
| 1995 | #868 | #111 | #304 | ||
| 1996 | #604 | #81 | #261 | ||
| 1997 | #396 | #368 | #127 | #193 | |
| 1998 | #331 | #493 | #177 | #169 | |
| 1999 | #303 | #572 | #137 | #207 | |
| 2000 | #325 | #583 | #153 | #189 | |
| 2001 | #348 | #794 | #190 | #212 | |
| 2002 | #388 | #974 | #201 | #264 | |
| 2003 | #467 | #868 | #285 | #274 | |
| 2004 | #556 | #326 | #362 | ||
| 2005 | #661 | #307 | #445 | ||
| 2006 | #759 | #445 | #456 | ||
| 2007 | #790 | #442 | #445 | ||
| 2008 | #835 | #316 | #692 | ||
| 1932 | #175 | ||||
| 1934 | #139 | ||||
| 1935 | #89 | ||||
| 1936 | #89 | ||||
| 1937 | #75 | ||||
| 1938 | #92 | ||||
| 1939 | #61 | ||||
| 1940 | #65 | ||||
| 1941 | #57 | ||||
| 1942 | #48 | ||||
| 1943 | #67 | ||||
| 1944 | #74 | ||||
| 1945 | #51 | ||||
| 1946 | #63 | ||||
| 1947 | #62 | ||||
| 1948 | #68 | ||||
| 1949 | #59 | ||||
| 1950 | #61 | ||||
| 1951 | #76 | ||||
| 1952 | #62 | ||||
| 1953 | #80 | ||||
| 1954 | #63 | ||||
| 1955 | #64 | ||||
| 1956 | #60 | ||||
| 1957 | #67 | ||||
| 1958 | #60 | ||||
| 1959 | #59 | ||||
| 1960 | #65 | ||||
| 1961 | #65 | ||||
| 1962 | #61 | ||||
| 1963 | #81 | ||||
| 1964 | #93 | #107 | |||
| 1965 | #93 | #106 | |||
| 1966 | #90 | #102 | |||
| 1967 | #88 | #86 | |||
| 1971 | #130 | #36 | |||
| 1974 | #171 | #37 | |||
| 1975 | #171 | #36 | |||
| 1976 | #200 | #33 | |||
| 1993 | #87 | #258 | |||
| 1994 | #72 | #312 | |||
| 2009 | #449 | #553 | |||
| 2010 | #700 | #607 | |||
| 2015 | #791 | ||||
| 2023 | #911 | ||||
| 2011 | #818 | ||||
| 2012 | #998 | ||||
| 2014 | #850 |
Top names by country: United States · United Kingdom · New Zealand · Ireland · Canada
Variations of Name Gillian
Names Similar to Gillian
Nicknames for Gillian
- Gill
- Gilly
- Jill
- Gigi
- Lian
Famous People Named Gillian
| Gillian Anderson | Actress known for her role in "The X-Files" |
| Gillian Flynn | Author of the bestselling novel "Gone Girl" |
| Gillian Jacobs | Actress known for her role in the TV show "Community" |
| Gillian Murphy | Principal dancer with the American Ballet Theatre |
| Gillian Welch | American singer-songwriter |
| Gillian Chung | Hong Kong singer and actress |
| Gillian Taylforth | British actress |
| Gillian Hills | British actress and singer |
| Gillian Ayres | British abstract painter |
| Gillian Lynne | British dancer and choreographer |
Characters Named Gillian
| Gillian Foster | Character from the TV series "Lie to Me" |
| Gillian Darmody | Character from the TV series "Boardwalk Empire" |
| Gillian Bower | Character from the novel "Jamaica Inn" by Daphne du Maurier |
| Gillian Holt | Character from the TV series "Ally McBeal" |
| Gillian Owens | Character from the movie "Practical Magic" |
| Gillian Taylor | Character from the movie "Star Trek IV - The Voyage Home" |
| Gillian "Gill" Gorrell | Character from the TV series "Heartland" |
| Gillian Gray | Character from the TV series "Hex" |
| Gillian Pike | Character from the TV series "The X-Files" |
| Gillian "Gill" Colson | Character from the TV series "Wentworth" |