Hilary is a name of Latin origin, derived from the male name Hilarius, which means "cheerful" or "happy". The name Hilarius was borne by several early saints, including Saint Hilary of Poitiers, a fourth-century bishop and theologian who was known for his opposition to Arianism. Due to his sanctity and influence, the name Hilarius became popular among Christians and was eventually adopted as a female name in the Middle Ages.
In literature, Hilary is sometimes associated with characters who are intelligent, independent, and strong-willed. However, it's important to note that these traits are not inherent to the name itself but rather attributed to characters by authors. Despite its historical roots and literary associations, Hilary remains a unisex name that can be given to a child regardless of their gender.
Today, Hilary is still used as both a male and female name, although it is more commonly found among females in English-speaking countries. Its popularity has waxed and waned over the years but has remained relatively steady since the mid-20th century. Overall, Hilary is a timeless name with a rich history and a pleasant meaning that continues to appeal to parents looking for unique and meaningful names for their children.
Based on the provided statistics, we can observe a significant trend regarding the popularity of the name Hilary over time in the United States.
From 1914 to around 1975, there was a gradual increase in the number of births where Hilary was chosen as the baby's name. This steady growth is evident through the numbers, with peaks occurring in certain years such as:
* 234 births in 1967
* 253 births in both 1968 and 1969
* 347 births in 1969
* 355 births in 1970
However, starting from around the late 1970s to early 1980s, we notice a significant increase in Hilary's popularity. This period coincides with the emergence of notable public figures named Hillary or Hilary, which may have contributed to the rise in its usage:
* Hillary Clinton, who was First Lady of the United States from 1993 to 2001, and later served as a Senator for New York from 2001 to 2009.
Reaching its peak popularity during this timeframe, there were:
* 877 births in 1984
* 1,054 births in 1985
* 909 births in 1986
After the mid-1980s, Hilary's popularity began to decline gradually. This is reflected in the decreasing number of births with this name each year:
* From a high of 1,217 births in 1990
* To a low of 45 births in 2022
Despite this decrease in popularity over time, Hilary remains an enduring name choice for parents in the United States. Between 1914 and 2023, there have been a total of 24,109 births where Hilary was selected as the baby's name. This illustrates the ongoing appeal of this name across generations.
It is essential to note that the popularity of names can be influenced by various factors such as current events, trends in media and entertainment, as well as personal preference. The provided statistics demonstrate how these elements have played a role in shaping the popularity of the name Hilary over time in the United States.