Hilary
Below 5 births
2025 SSA
About Hilary
The only version that works for boys anymore is the Latinate Hilario or Ilario. Better to look to Felix for a happy-meaning name.
Hilary for girls#5301 US
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.
Pronounced HIL-uh-ree.
As of October 2026, Hilary ranked #12872 in US births in 2018 SSA, peaked at #733 in 1891.
Popularity & trends
Data table
| Year | US rank · boys | Births · boys | US rank · girls | Births · girls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | — | 0 | #2,858 | 60 |
| 2015 | — | 0 | #3,040 | 56 |
| 2016 | — | 0 | — | 0 |
| 2017 | — | 0 | — | 0 |
| 2018 | — | 0 | — | 0 |
| 2019 | — | 0 | #4,480 | 31 |
| 2020 | — | 0 | — | 0 |
| 2021 | — | 0 | — | 0 |
| 2022 | — | 0 | #3,496 | 45 |
| 2023 | — | 0 | #2,829 | 60 |
| 2024 | — | 0 | #4,132 | 35 |
| 2025 | — | 0 | — | 0 |
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Hilary on lists
Famous Hilarys
- Saint Hilary of PoitiersBoy
French bishop
- Saint Hilary of ArlesBoy
French bishop
- Saint Hilary of GaleataBoy
Italian hermit
- HilaryBoy
Bishop of Chichester, England
- Hilary MincBoy
Polish politician
- Hilary Whitehall PutnamBoy
American philosopher
- Hilary KnightBoy
illustrator of the Eloise books
- Hilary Ann SwankGirl
American actress
- Hilary Erhard DuffGirl
American singer and actress
- Hilary Hollis RhodaGirl
American model
- Hilary (Blake)Girl
American singer,songwriter
- Hilary Jane ArmstrongGirl
British politician
- Hilary Mary MantelGirl
English writer
- Hilary HahnGirl
American violinist
- Hilary du PréGirl
British flautist
- Hilary RosenGirl
American communications consultant, Democratic pundit, and former registered lobbyist
Hilary in pop culture
- Hilary Norman "Norm" PetersonBoy
character on TV's "Cheers"
- HilaryBoy
youngest boy in "Five Children and It" by E. Nesbit
- Hilary BeckerBoy
character on TV's "Primeval"
- St Hilary's DayBoy
January 12, traditionally the coldest day of the year
- Hilary BanksGirl
character on the TV show "Fresh Prince of Bel,Air"
- HilaryGirl
character from the film "But I'm a Cheerleader"
- Hilary FayGirl
Mandy Moore's character from the film "Saved"
- Hilary WentworthGirl
character in the "St. Clare's" book series by Enid Blyton
- Hilary "Larry" FriedmanGirl
character in movie "Blended"
- Hilary HitchinsonGirl
character in book and movie “Luckiest Girl Alive”