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Jillian

♀ Girl

Pronounced JIL-ee-un /ˈdʒɪl.i.ən/High

Meaning: Youthful; an English variant of Gillian, which is a feminine form of Julian, from Latin Julianus (of the Julian family, possibly meaning youthful or downy-bearded)High

In 30 seconds: A three-syllable English variant of Gillian, itself the feminine of Julian, meaning 'youthful' from the Roman Julian family name. It peaked in the 1980s–1990s as a stylish expansion of Jill.

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Origin HighLatin, English

MeaningYouthful; an English variant of Gillian, which is a feminine form of Julian, from Latin Julianus (of the Julian family, possibly meaning youthful or downy-bearded)

U.S. rank (2025)#1266 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births177 girls (0.01% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1982

Total births (all-time)≈ 83,195

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

Jillian is a spelling variant of Gillian, the feminine form of Julian (from Latin Julianus, of the Julian clan). Julian itself may derive from the Greek ioulos (downy-bearded, youthful) or from the Roman clan name. The J-spelling Jillian is particularly American.

Jillian was popular in the U.S. in the 1980s and 1990s. It ranked #1132 for girls in 2024.

Did you know? Jillian and Gillian both derive from the Roman Julian family — the same lineage that gave us Julius Caesar, the month of July, and the Julian calendar still used in some Orthodox churches.

Overall data confidence 89%

Behind the Name — Jillian — Latin/English etymologyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

GillianJilianJuliana

Nicknames

JillJilli

Famous Bearers

★Jillian Michaels (1974-)
American personal trainer and TV fitness personality
★Jillian Bell (1984-)
American actress and comedian
★Jillian Barberie (1966-)
American television host and weather presenter
★Jillian Hervey (1989-)
American singer of the duo Lion Babe

If you like Jillian…

Gillian— the standard spelling of the same name

Julian— the masculine form from which Jillian ultimately derives

Juliana— four-syllable Latin -ana name from the same Julian root

Lillian— three-syllable -ian ending name with the same feel

Cillian

Explore names like Jillian

By themeenglish latin classic three-syllable mid-century

By meaningYouth

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Jillian mean?

Jillian means 'youthful,' as a spelling variant of Gillian, the feminine of Julian, from Latin Julianus.

How do you pronounce Jillian?

It's said JIL-ee-un — three syllables, stress on the first.

Is Jillian a boy or girl name?

Jillian is used as a girls' name.

How popular is Jillian?

Jillian ranked #1132 for U.S. girls in 2024.