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Home › Baby Names Directory › Hilary

Hilary

♀ Girl

Pronounced HIL-ə-ree /ˈhɪl.ə.ri/High

Meaning: From Latin hilaris, 'cheerful, merry, happy' — the root of 'hilarious'High

In 30 seconds: Cheerful by definition: Hilary comes from Latin 'merry, happy' — the same root as 'hilarious'. Bright, warm, and full of good humor.
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Origin HighLatin
MeaningFrom Latin hilaris, 'cheerful, merry, happy' — the root of 'hilarious'
U.S. rank (2025)#5301 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births24 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1990
Total births (all-time)≈ 24,168

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 199019142025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Hilary comes from Latin hilaris, 'cheerful, merry, happy' (the root of 'hilarious'). Borne by an early saint, it became a popular girls' name in the twentieth century; actress Hilary Swank carries it.

It registers thinly today. Rare, cheerful at the root, and bright.

Did you know? Hilary, from Latin hilaris, 'cheerful', shares its root with 'hilarious' — and was originally used for boys before becoming a girls' favorite.
Overall data confidence 85%
Behind the Name — Hilary — etymology

Variations

HillaryHilarieHillarie

Nicknames

Hil

Famous Bearers

  • ★Hilary Swank (1974-)
    American actress who won two Academy Awards for Best Actress
  • ★Hilary Duff (1987-)
    American actress and singer who rose to fame on the Disney Channel series Lizzie McGuire
  • ★Hilary Mantel (1952-2022)
    British novelist who won the Booker Prize twice for her Thomas Cromwell trilogy
  • ★Hilary Hahn (1979-)
    American classical violinist and Grammy Award winner

If you like Hilary…

Hillary— the double-l spelling
Ilaria— the Italian form
Valerie— a companion vintage classic
Rosemary— echoes that soft -ry sound
Victory— shares Hilary's Latin roots

Explore names like Hilary

By themelatinvirtue
By meaningJoy

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Hilary mean?

Hilary is from Latin hilaris, 'cheerful, merry, happy'.

How do you pronounce Hilary?

It's said HIL-ə-ree /ˈhɪl.ə.ri/ — three syllables, stress on the first.

Is Hilary a boy or girl name?

Hilary is mainly a girl's name today; it was once used for boys.

How popular is Hilary?

Hilary is a rare name in the U.S. today.

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