Meaning & Story
Gilly is a diminutive of Gillian, which derives from Julian and ultimately from the Roman name Iulianus, related to Julius. The name also functions as a diminutive of Gillie or Gilles. In some Scottish dialects, gillie or gilly is a word for a fishing or hunting attendant, from the Scottish Gaelic gille meaning lad or servant. For pets, Gilly has a warm, slightly quirky Scottish-adjacent quality that suits a spirited, outdoorsy companion.
Gilly is a cheerful, slightly offbeat name for a female companion with a lively personality and a certain informal warmth that makes her immediately likable. The Scottish outdoor connection gives it a faint whiff of heather and cold mountain air, which suits a companion who is happiest outside with mud on her paws and a completely unmanageable enthusiasm for whatever is around the next corner. Easy to say with affection, easy to call from a distance, and easy to love without reservation.