Gilles is a French given name of Germanic origin. It is derived from the Germanic name Wido or Widoald, which is composed of the elements "widu" meaning "wood" and "-ald" meaning "noble". Therefore, Gilles translates to "noble ruler".
The name Gilles has been popular in France for centuries, particularly among the nobility. One of the most notable historical figures named Gilles was Gilles de Rais (1404-1440), a French nobleman and companion-in-arms of Joan of Arc during the Hundred Years' War. He was later accused of heresy, witchcraft, and murders.
In literature, Gilles appears as the protagonist in "Gilles de Rais" by French author Jules Barbey d'Aurevilly, which is loosely based on the historical figure's life. The name has also been used in several works of art and music throughout history.
Overall, Gilles is a strong and historic French given name with a clear meaning rooted in its Germanic origin. Its popularity has waned somewhat in recent decades but remains a classic choice for parents seeking a traditional French name for their child.
The statistics provided show the annual number of births with the given name Gilles in the United States from 1923 to 2001. Over this period, there were a total of 359 babies named Gilles.
Looking at the data year by year, we can observe some fluctuations in the popularity of the name Gilles. The most popular years for the name appear to be the late 1940s and early 1950s, with peaks of 13 births in both 1946 and 1952.
However, it's important to note that these figures represent a relatively small number of births compared to other names during these years. For instance, in 1952, when there were 11 births named Gilles, the Social Security Administration reports that the most popular name for boys that year was James, with over 140,000 births.
The data also shows some periods of decline in popularity for the name Gilles. Between 1963 and 1970, there were no years where more than seven babies were named Gilles, and there were several years with only five births each. After a brief increase in the late 1970s and early 1980s, the popularity of the name declined again, with fewer than six births per year from 1986 until at least 2001.
In conclusion, while Gilles has been given as a boy's name in the United States for nearly a century, its popularity has varied significantly over time. Despite these fluctuations, there is still a notable history of parents choosing this name for their children throughout the years.