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

Hillary is primarily a girl's name. It is also used as a boy's name, with 1,262 recorded births.

When was Hillary most popular?

Hillary reached its peak popularity in 1992 with 2,521 births that year. It is currently ranked #2326 in the U.S.

How popular is the name Hillary?

Hillary is currently ranked #2326 in the U.S. (2024). It has been given to 28,977 babies since 1922.

Hillary

An uncommon Latin pick — distinctive and rare.

Girl's name| Also boysLatinRising fast Also a pet name

#2326▲ 173in 2024

Meaning & Origin

A unisex given name from Latin. A female given name from Latin Hilaria. A male given name from Latin Hilarius, variant of Hilary.

Hillary is a girl's and boy's baby name of Latin origin, from hilarius meaning 'cheerful' or 'merry.' Saint Hilary of Poitiers was a 4th-century theologian, and the name was historically more common for boys. In modern times, Hillary Clinton — U.S. Secretary of State and the first female major-party presidential nominee — has made this a name associated with groundbreaking achievement.

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Popularity Over Time

Hillary was #808 twenty years ago and has since drifted to #2326, but its charm endures.

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Hillary
Decade	Births	Avg Rank	Trend
2020s	335	#2640	▼
2010s	1,289	#1942	▼
2000s	2,688	#947	▼
1990s	8,722	#514	—
1980s	9,607	#270	▲
1970s	4,050	#518	▲
1960s	1,344	#925	▲
1950s	708	#1221	▲
1940s	229	#2016	▲
1920s	5	#5344	—

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(84 years, 1922–2024)

Year-by-year popularity data for the name Hillary
Year	Births	Rank	Change
2024	79	#2326	+8 (11.3%)
2023	71	#2499	-2 (-2.7%)
2022	73	#2472	+13 (21.7%)
2021	60	#2833	+8 (15.4%)
2020	52	#3070	+7 (15.6%)
2019	45	#3476	-4 (-8.2%)
2018	49	#3267	-14 (-22.2%)
2017	63	#2725	-109 (-63.4%)
2016	172	#1369	+34 (24.6%)
2015	138	#1583	-39 (-22.0%)
2014	177	#1335	+23 (14.9%)
2013	154	#1452	-3 (-1.9%)
2012	157	#1454	-9 (-5.4%)
2011	166	#1380	-2 (-1.2%)
2010	168	#1380	-32 (-16.0%)
2009	200	#1237	-212 (-51.5%)
2008	412	#722	+130 (46.1%)
2007	282	#961	+17 (6.4%)
2006	265	#983	-20 (-7.0%)
2005	285	#885	-26 (-8.4%)

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

Hillary as a Boy's Name

While overwhelmingly a girl's name, Hillary has also been given to 1,262 boys in the U.S. since 1888.

Unranked

Current rank

1,262

Total births

1954

Peak year

Compare Hillary as girl vs boy

Frequently Asked

Can Hillary be used for both boys and girls?

Yes, Hillary is used for both boys and girls. As a girl's name, it currently ranks #2326. As a boy's name, it is not currently in the top rankings.

Hillary has two lives

Hillary, the baby name

#2326girls

28,977 babies

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Hillary, the pet name

#5173pet name

13 pets

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Last updated May 2026 · Data: U.S. Social Security Administration (1922–2024) · Methodology