Hilary

Latin from Greek

"cheerful, happy"

Hilary Origin and Meaning

The name Hilary is both a boy's name and a girl's name of Greek, Latin origin meaning "cheerful, happy".

Hilary (also spelled with two 'l's) is a hot potato of a name, so closely identified with Sen. Clinton that it's hard for most parents to see it as a baby name. A pity, really, as it's got so much going for it: the popular, rhythmic three-syllable structure, the fact that it's strong but light, proper but jaunty, with an irresistible meaning -- having the same root as hilarious.