Jil

♀ Girl

How to Pronounce Jil

Pronounced JIL /ˈdʒɪl/High

Meaning: Jil is a trimmed one-l spelling of Jill, the English pet form of Gillian (Juliana), from the Latin Julius clan name, often glossed 'youthful' or 'downy-bearded'. Jill long ago became a stand-alone name, and Jil is simply its sparest spelling.Medium

In 30 seconds: Jil is a pared-down spelling of Jill — a short form of Gillian, from Latin roots meaning 'youthful' (said 'JIL').

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Origin MediumEnglish, Latin

MeaningJil is a trimmed one-l spelling of Jill, the English pet form of Gillian (Juliana), from the Latin Julius clan name, often glossed 'youthful' or 'downy-bearded'. Jill long ago became a stand-alone name, and Jil is simply its sparest spelling.

U.S. rank (2002)#16625 ↘ Falling

2002 U.S. births5 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1957

Total births (all-time)≈ 559

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

Jil is a minimalist spelling of Jill, which began as a pet form of Gillian (from Juliana, the Latin Julius family name, traditionally read 'youthful'). Jill stood alone as a first name for generations; the single-l Jil is an uncommon stylistic variant.

The Jil spelling stayed rare, cresting in the late 1950s alongside the far more common Jill, then easing off. It reads as a crisp mid-century name and shows no distinct revival.

Did you know? Jill was so familiar from the nursery rhyme 'Jack and Jill' that it became a favorite mid-century standalone name; the trimmed Jil spelling is a rarer, streamlined take.

Overall data confidence 60%

References — Jill / Gillian — Pet form of Gillian; Jil trimmed spelling

Variations

JillJylJille

Nicknames

Jilly

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Jil…

Jill— the standard spelling Jil trims

Jillian— the fuller form behind Jill/Jil

Gillian— the original name Jill derives from

Jan— a same-era short, one-syllable girl's name

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Jil mean?

Jil is a form of Jill, a short form of Gillian, from Latin, traditionally read 'youthful'.

How do you pronounce Jil?

It's said JIL /ˈdʒɪl/ — one syllable.

Is Jil a boy or girl name?

Jil is used as a girl's name.

How popular is Jil?

Rare — an uncommon streamlined spelling of Jill, seldom given today.