Hilaire is of Latin origin and means "cheerful." It is a unisex name, though it's more commonly used for males. The name gained prominence through the works of French poet Alfred Hillaire Belloc. In English-speaking countries, Hilaire is often associated with Hilaire Beloc, who was known for his humorous children's poetry. One of his most famous works is "Cautionary Tales for Children," published in 1898. The name has a unique sound and offers a distinctive alternative to more common names like Hilary or Harley. It could be suitable for someone looking for a name that's easy to pronounce yet not overly familiar.
The name Hilaire experienced intermittent popularity with peaks in 1975 and again from 1991 to 1992, but overall it was not a commonly chosen name during these years, with only 19 babies named Hilaire born in total.