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Hillel

♂ Boy

Pronounced hi-LEL /hɪˈlɛl/High

Meaning: Praise; from the Hebrew root h-l-l, the same root as hallelujah; the name of Judaism's great sage Hillel the ElderHigh

In 30 seconds: Hallelujah's first cousin: Hillel means 'praise' — and names the sage whose one-foot summary of the Torah still echoes: what is hateful to you, do not do to another.

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Origin HighHebrew

MeaningPraise; from the Hebrew root h-l-l, the same root as hallelujah; the name of Judaism's great sage Hillel the Elder

U.S. rank (2025)#4178 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births25 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2019

Total births (all-time)≈ 1,453

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

Hillel comes from the Hebrew root h-l-l, 'to praise' — the engine of hallelujah — and appears in the Bible before becoming immortal through Hillel the Elder, the first-century sage whose humane school shaped rabbinic Judaism and whose maxims ('If I am not for myself, who will be?') remain proverbs. Campus Jewish life worldwide organizes under his name.

The name stays steady in Orthodox communities and rare beyond them; basketball fans may know Israeli-American prospect-era bearers. Praise, as a lifetime assignment.

Did you know? Asked to teach the whole Torah while standing on one foot, Hillel the Elder answered: 'What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbor — the rest is commentary. Go and learn.'

Overall data confidence 90%

Behind the Name — Hillel — etymology

Variations

HilelHallel

Nicknames

Hilly

Famous Bearers

★Hillel the Elder (110 BC–10 AD)
Jewish sage whose school shaped rabbinic Judaism; famed for the Golden Rule on one foot.

If you like Hillel…

Shai— a fellow compact Hebrew classic, 'gift'

Yehuda— the 'praised' tribal name from the same semantic field

Akiva— another great-sage name carried in observant families

Kalel— lands in the same popularity range

Jael— a similarly popular pick

Explore names like Hillel

By themehebrew jewish sage

By meaningWisdom

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Hillel mean?

Hillel means 'praise' in Hebrew, from the same root as hallelujah.

How do you pronounce Hillel?

It's said hi-LEL /hɪˈlɛl/ — two syllables, stress on the second.

Is Hillel a boy or girl name?

Hillel is a boy's name.

How popular is Hillel?

Hillel is rare nationally and steady in Orthodox Jewish communities.