Discover name insights instantly.

Uncover the origin, popularity, and more for any name.

Name Origin

Hilary is a traditionally masculine given name of Latin origin, meaning 'cheerful' or 'merry'. It's derived from the Latin word 'hilaris', which itself comes from the Greek word ' hilaros'. Hilary has been used as a given name for centuries, with notable historical figures including Saint Hilary of Poitiers, a 4th-century bishop.

latinmasculinecheerfulmerryhistoricalsaintly

Famous People

Hilary Clinton (1947-)

Politician

  • First Lady of the United States (1993-2001)
  • U.S. Senator from New York (2001-2009)
  • 67th United States Secretary of State (2009-2013)
  • Democratic nominee for President of the United States in 2016

Hilary Mantel (1952-2022)

Author

  • Twice winner of the Booker Prize for 'Wolf Hall' (2009) and 'Bring Up the Bodies' (2012)
  • Acclaimed historical novelist

Hilary Swank (1974-)

Actress

  • Academy Awards for Best Actress in 'Boys Don't Cry' (1999) and 'Million Dollar Baby' (2004)
  • Golden Globe Award winner