Quill

♂ Boy

Pronounced KWIL /kwɪl/High

Meaning: From Middle English quil ('hollow stalk,' 'quill feather'), possibly also a short form of the Irish surname Quill (from Ó Cuill, 'descendant of Coll,' meaning 'hazel tree')High

In 30 seconds: A crisp, creative English name evoking the quill pen — symbol of the writer's craft. Quill also has Irish surname roots (Ó Cuill, 'hazel tree'), giving it both literary and Celtic connections.

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Origin MediumEnglish, Irish

MeaningFrom Middle English quil ('hollow stalk,' 'quill feather'), possibly also a short form of the Irish surname Quill (from Ó Cuill, 'descendant of Coll,' meaning 'hazel tree')

U.S. rank (2024)#3136 ↗ Rising

2024 U.S. births39 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2019

Total births (all-time)≈ 384

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

History & Origin

As a word, quill derives from Middle Low German quiele or Middle English quil, meaning a hollow stalk or feather used for writing. As a surname, Quill is an anglicization of Irish Ó Cuill ('descendant of Coll'), where Coll is a personal name meaning 'hazel.' As a given name, Quill is a modern choice, combining literary associations with a short, punchy sound.

Quill gained wider awareness through the character Peter Quill (Star-Lord) in Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy, helping establish it as a recognizable given name option. It fits within the trend for short, nature-adjacent, slightly quirky names for boys.

Did you know? Before the steel nib was invented in the 1820s, every document, letter, and book in the Western world was written with a quill — a feather cut to a point. The word 'quill' is also used for a porcupine's spine, from the same Old English root.

Overall data confidence 82%

Oxford English Dictionary — quill — Middle English/Low German etymologyMacLysaght — Surnames of Ireland — Ó Cuill: hazel tree origin

Variations

QuinnQuillonColl

Nicknames

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If you like Quill…

Quinn— shares the Qu- sound and Irish surname-name heritage

Reed— another single-syllable nature/object name with literary echoes

Fox— short, sharp nature-word name in the same adventurous register

Ash— single-syllable tree name with the same crisp, modern appeal

Frequently Asked

What does the name Quill mean?

Quill means a quill feather or pen, and as an Irish surname-name it means 'descendant of the hazel tree.' It carries strong literary associations.

How do you pronounce Quill?

Quill is pronounced KWIL (/kwɪl/), a single crisp syllable.

Is Quill a boy or girl name?

Quill is used primarily as a boy's name, though it could work for either gender.

How popular is Quill?

Quill is a rare, modern name that gained some visibility through the Marvel character Peter Quill (Star-Lord).