How Many People Are Named Hilary?

Complete statistics for the name Hilary: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.

Hilary
Very Rare
Old English

Hilary means 'battle' and has roots in Old English, making it a rare gem among female names. That's just 1 in 13,977 Americans who share this unique moniker, with an estimated 23,610 living today. The name peaked in popularity back in 1990 but has since been on a steady decline.

~130
Living in US
1 in 2,549,610
Americans
1990
Peak Year

📖 Meaning & Origin

💬
Meaning
Battle
🌐
Origin
Old English
🔢
Numerology
Life Path 1
Personality Traits
Determined Resilient
1
Life Path Number

Life-path number 1 traditionally represents leadership and independence.

🌍 Worldwide Usage

23,610
Worldwide Bearers
#7,276
Global Rank
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Scotland
2,386
🇬🇭 Ghana
2,247
🇺🇬 Uganda
2,200
🇳🇿 New Zealand
1,828
🇮🇪 Ireland
1,808
🇧🇷 Brazil
1,520
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
1,359
🇿🇲 Zambia
1,336
🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
1,058
🇲🇾 Malaysia
977

⚥ Gender Distribution

♂ Male
810 (3%)
♀ Female
22,800 (97%)

📊 Births by Age Group

Avg Cohort Age: 48
2,329
Would be under 30 (9%)
18,970
Would be 30–60 (72%)
5,042
Would be over 60 (19%)

All 26,341 recorded US births for this name, grouped by the age those individuals would be today. Not adjusted for survival, so the number living today is lower (see the living estimate above).

📈 Popularity Over Time

Peak: 1990

Annual US births from SSA records  ·  Trend: Declining

🏆 Name Scorecard

Popularity
98
Classic Feel
50
Modern Appeal
50
International
5

Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency

📜 Hilary Through the Generations

Over the decades, Hilary has seen its fair share of ups and downs. Born in the early 1990s, there were 1,225 babies named Hilary that year, marking the peak of its popularity. Today, the name is less common, with most people named Hilary falling within the 30 to 60 age range, indicating a generation gap. With 2,329 under 30, 18,970 aged 30 to 60, and 5,042 over 60, Hilary's age distribution shows a fairly even spread across different life stages, suggesting it's a name that bridges classic and modern sensibilities.

📍 State Distribution (Top 10)

California 3,301
New York 2,183
Texas 1,392
Pennsylvania 1,186
Illinois 1,039
Ohio 924
Massachusetts 894
Michigan 819
Florida 613
New Jersey 543

⭐ Famous People Named Hilary

Hilary, Hilarie or Hillary is a given name and surname, derived from the Latin hilarius meaning "cheerful", from hilaris, "cheerful, merry", which comes from the Greek ἱλαρός (hilaros), "cheerful, merry", which in turn comes from ἵλαος (hilaos), "propitious, gracious". Ilaria is the popular Italian feminine form, while Ilario is the Italian masculine one. Other male forms are Hilarion, Ilarion, and Illarion.…

Full list on Wikipedia →

🌿 Related Names by Origin

Other names sharing Hilary's Old English roots

📄 About the Name Hilary

How Many People Have the Name Hilary?

Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 130 people in the United States currently share the name Hilary. That works out to roughly 1 in every 2,549,610 Americans, placing it in the Very Rare category.

Is Hilary a Common or Rare Name?

Hilary is classified as Very Rare. The rarity scale runs from Very Common (shared by millions) through Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Very Rare. Understanding where a name sits helps parents gauge uniqueness, genealogists narrow down records, and individuals settle debates about their own name's distinctiveness.

What Does the Name Hilary Mean?

Hilary means "battle" and comes from Old English origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 1.

Gender Breakdown

Of all recorded bearers of Hilary in SSA data, approximately 3% are male and 97% are female.

When Was Hilary Most Popular?

The name Hilary reached peak popularity in 1990, with 1,225 babies registered that year. Current trend: Declining.

How Is This Data Calculated?

All figures are statistical estimates, not exact government headcounts. The underlying data comes from the SSA National Baby Names dataset. Full methodology is explained on the methodology page.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

How many people are named Hilary?

Approximately 130 people named Hilary live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 130. That works out to roughly 1 in 2,549,610 Americans.

Is Hilary a rare name?

Hilary is classified as Very Rare in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 2,549,610 Americans has this name.

What does the name Hilary mean?

Hilary means "battle" and comes from Old English origins.

Is Hilary more male or female?

Based on SSA records, 3% of people named Hilary are male and 97% are female.

When was Hilary most popular?

Hilary peaked in 1990 with 1,225 births that year. Current trend: Declining.

How accurate are these statistics?

All figures are statistical estimates based on SSA birth records and age-adjusted modeling. See the methodology page for full details.

Disclaimer: All results are statistical estimates based on aggregated SSA birth records and modeling. Not exact counts of individuals. Data source: SSA National Baby Names dataset.
Quick Stats
Living in US130
All-Time Births130
1 in X1 in 2,549,610
RarityVery Rare
GenderFemale
Avg Age48
Peak Year1990
World Rank#7,276
Male %3%
Female %97%

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Data Source

Powered by the SSA National Baby Names dataset, birth registrations from 1880 to present.

All counts are statistical estimates. See the methodology page.