Girl
Hilary
cheerful, merry
About Hilary
This classic name carries an air of brightness and cheerfulness that seems to illuminate any room. Parents who choose Hilary often appreciate its timeless quality and the way it balances traditional sensibility with contemporary appeal. The name has graced both historical figures and modern personalities, lending it a versatile character that works beautifully across generations. Its soft yet strong sound creates an approachable elegance, while its two-L spelling adds a touch of distinction. Hilary suits a girl who might grow into a confident, articulate woman with natural leadership qualities and a warm, engaging presence that draws people to her.
Popularity of the Name Hilary
Rank among the 1,000 most popular baby names, by year.
| United States | New Zealand | Ireland | Canada | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1949 | #965 | #131 | ||
| 1950 | #843 | #149 | ||
| 1951 | #894 | #140 | ||
| 1952 | #925 | #182 | ||
| 1953 | #882 | #210 | ||
| 1954 | #891 | #277 | ||
| 1955 | #820 | #218 | ||
| 1956 | #769 | #204 | ||
| 1957 | #757 | #255 | ||
| 1958 | #907 | #289 | ||
| 1959 | #844 | #234 | ||
| 1960 | #811 | #216 | ||
| 1961 | #725 | #193 | ||
| 1962 | #731 | #167 | ||
| 1963 | #640 | #222 | ||
| 1964 | #638 | #234 | #129 | |
| 1965 | #621 | #165 | #107 | |
| 1966 | #594 | #216 | #123 | |
| 1967 | #623 | #164 | #121 | |
| 1968 | #605 | #224 | #123 | |
| 1969 | #527 | #206 | #119 | |
| 1970 | #532 | #271 | #114 | |
| 1971 | #525 | #256 | #108 | |
| 1972 | #516 | #223 | #126 | |
| 1973 | #478 | #232 | #144 | |
| 1974 | #445 | #280 | #160 | |
| 1975 | #439 | #200 | #142 | |
| 1976 | #444 | #336 | #156 | |
| 1977 | #369 | #255 | #131 | |
| 1978 | #305 | #253 | #185 | |
| 1979 | #275 | #230 | #148 | |
| 1980 | #326 | #238 | #204 | |
| 1981 | #372 | #234 | #199 | |
| 1982 | #384 | #328 | #191 | |
| 1983 | #346 | #364 | #228 | |
| 1984 | #274 | #391 | #303 | |
| 1985 | #244 | #207 | #333 | |
| 1986 | #274 | #311 | ||
| 1987 | #281 | #225 | #262 | |
| 1988 | #262 | #257 | #297 | |
| 1989 | #261 | #362 | #290 | |
| 1990 | #232 | #265 | #366 | |
| 1991 | #242 | #343 | #308 | #176 |
| 1992 | #234 | #303 | #296 | #153 |
| 1993 | #647 | #207 | #277 | #166 |
| 1927 | #203 | |||
| 1929 | #165 | |||
| 1932 | #183 | |||
| 1938 | #171 | |||
| 1939 | #121 | |||
| 1940 | #191 | |||
| 1941 | #118 | |||
| 1942 | #132 | |||
| 1943 | #127 | |||
| 1944 | #137 | |||
| 1945 | #142 | |||
| 1946 | #124 | |||
| 1947 | #136 | |||
| 1948 | #150 | |||
| 1994 | #470 | #267 | ||
| 1995 | #339 | #293 | ||
| 1996 | #370 | #310 | ||
| 1997 | #414 | #347 | ||
| 1998 | #361 | #479 | ||
| 1999 | #412 | #697 | ||
| 2000 | #587 | #900 | ||
| 2001 | #462 | #767 | ||
| 2002 | #475 | #618 | ||
| 2003 | #596 | #684 | ||
| 2004 | #755 | #523 | ||
| 2006 | #829 | #503 | ||
| 2007 | #573 | #603 | ||
| 2009 | #973 | |||
| 2010 | #703 | #883 | ||
| 2005 | #508 | |||
| 2008 | #910 |
Top names by country: United States · New Zealand · Ireland · Canada
Variations of Name Hilary
Names Similar to Hilary
Nicknames for Hilary
- Hill
- Hilly
- Lary
- Hil
- Hillie
Famous People Named Hilary
| Hilary Swank | Academy Award-winning actress |
| Hillary Clinton | Former First Lady of the United States and Secretary of State |
| Hilary Duff | Actress and singer |
| Hilary Hahn | Renowned violinist |
| Hilary Knight | Olympic gold medalist in women's hockey |
| Hilary Devey | British businesswoman and television personality |
| Hilary Rhoda | American supermodel |
| Hilary Putnam | Influential philosopher and mathematician |
| Hilary Mantel | Award-winning author |
| Hilary Farr | Co-host of the show "Love It or List It" |
| Hilary Rosen | Music industry executive and advocate |
| Hilary Barry | New Zealand television presenter |
| Hilary Benn | British Labour Party politician |
| Hilary McKay | Children's author |
| Hilary Armstrong | British politician |
| Hilary Koprowski | Polish-American virologist |
| Hilary Weston | Former Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, Canada |
Characters Named Hilary
| Hilary Whitney | Character in F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel "Tender Is the Night" |
| Hilary Faye Stockard | Character in the movie "Saved!" |
| Hilary Angelo | Character in the TV series "Outlander" |
| Hilary Adams | Character in the novel "Brideshead Revisited" by Evelyn Waugh |
| Hilary Parker | Character in the TV show "Family Ties" |
| Hilary Banks | Character in the TV series "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" |
| Hilary Swanson | Character in the TV show "The West Wing" |
| Hilary Becker | Character in the TV series "Primeval" |
| Hilary Booth | Character in the movie "The Apartment" |
| Hilary, the Witch | Character in the video game "Darkstalkers" |
| Hilary Briss | Character in the TV series "The League of Gentlemen" |
| Hilary St. George | Character in the movie "Bonnie and Clyde" |
| Hilary O'Neil | Character in the movie "Dying Young" |
| Hilary Smithton | Character in the movie "The Village" |
| Hilary Curtis | Character in the soap opera "The Young and the Restless" |
| Hilary Maddox | Character in the book "Little White Lies" by Jennifer Lynn Barnes |
| Hilary Van Doren | Character in the movie "Theodora Goes Wild" |
| Hilary Bower | Character in the movie "The First Wives Club" |