Is Hildred a boy's or girl's name?

Hildred is primarily a girl's name. It is also used as a boy's name, with 421 recorded births.

When was Hildred most popular?

Hildred reached its peak popularity in 1920 with 88 births that year. It is not currently in the top rankings.

How popular is the name Hildred?

Hildred is not currently in the top rankings but has been given to 2,404 babies in the U.S. since 1889. Its peak was in 1920.

Hildred

An uncommon German pick — distinctive and rare.

Girl's name| Also boysGermanNot ranked recently

Rare name

Meaning & Origin

A female given name.

Hildred is a girl's and boy's baby name of German origin, a blend of the elements hild meaning 'battle' and red or rad meaning 'counsel.' It was used in the early 20th century as an elaboration of Hilda, with an old-world Germanic solidity.

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Popularity Over Time

Hildred has 71+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1889.

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Hildred
Decade	Births	Avg Rank	Trend
1960s	11	#6527	▼
1950s	64	#4822	▼
1940s	168	#2487	▼
1930s	347	#1263	▼
1920s	736	#867	▲
1910s	626	#756	▲
1900s	263	#711	▲
1890s	184	#797	▲
1880s	5	#1368	—

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(71 years, 1889–1965)

Year-by-year popularity data for the name Hildred
Year	Births	Rank	Change
1965	6	#6063	+1 (20.0%)
1963	5	#6990	-1 (-16.7%)
1959	6	#5827	+1 (20.0%)
1958	5	#6445	-1 (-16.7%)
1957	6	#5668	-3 (-33.3%)
1955	9	#4180	+3 (50.0%)
1954	6	#5379	-3 (-33.3%)
1952	9	#3930	+2 (28.6%)
1951	7	#4547	-9 (-56.3%)
1950	16	#2597	+3 (23.1%)
1949	13	#2904	+2 (18.2%)
1948	11	#3222	-4 (-26.7%)
1947	15	#2686	+7 (87.5%)
1946	8	#3798	-3 (-27.3%)
1945	11	#2808	-2 (-15.4%)
1944	13	#2558	-3 (-18.8%)
1943	16	#2290	-10 (-38.5%)
1942	26	#1644	-1 (-3.7%)
1941	27	#1513	-1 (-3.6%)
1940	28	#1450	-2 (-6.7%)

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.

Hildred as a Boy's Name

Though more common for girls, Hildred has a notable history as a boy's name too, with 421 births since 1911.

Unranked

Current rank

421

Total births

1923

Peak year

Compare Hildred as girl vs boy

Frequently Asked

Can Hildred be used for both boys and girls?

Yes, Hildred is used for both boys and girls. As a girl's name, it is not currently ranked. As a boy's name, it is not currently in the top rankings.

Last updated May 2026 · Data: U.S. Social Security Administration (1889–1965) · Methodology