Giles Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Giles has its roots in Latin and Greek, with its meaning relating to 'young goat'. It evolved from Aegidius to Giles and has a rich history tied to the veneration of Saint Giles. The name conveys traits of nobility and sophistication, although it has become less common in contemporary usage.
The name Giles is most popular in Virginia, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the G.I. Generation generation in the South region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Giles has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Giles' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 796th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 834th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 1112th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 1683rd out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 2440th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 4117th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 5306th out of 23106 names. Discover how the name 'Giles' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Giles"
Pronunciation
/dʒaɪlz/
Origin
Latin
Etymology
The name Giles derives from the Latin name 'Aegidius', which is derived from the Greek name 'Aigidos', meaning 'kid' or 'young goat'. The name was popularized in medieval Europe due to the veneration of Saint Giles, a 7th-century hermit and patron saint of the disabled.
Meaning
young goat
Language Evolution
Aegidius, Giles, Guilielmus
Historical Usage
The name gained popularity in the Middle Ages, particularly in England and France, following the establishment of the cult of Saint Giles. It became common among the nobility and was often used in literature.
Variants & Derivatives
Gile, Gilly, Gilles
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, the name Giles is less common but retains an old-world charm, often associated with sophistication and literary heritage.
Famous People
Giles Corey, Giles Deleuze, Giles Martin
Explore More Giles Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Giles"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Giles"
"Giles" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 796th of 7545 | 1,132 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 834th of 6773 | 1,047 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 1112th of 7552 | 864 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 1683rd of 10718 | 446 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 2440th of 16616 | 416 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 4117th of 24088 | 344 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 5306th of 23106 | 209 |
Regional Popularity of "Giles" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
56.00% 793rd/1416 |
72.30% 997th/1379 |
32.29% 764th/2366 |
85.99% 982nd/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
50.13% 775th/1546 |
58.80% 915th/1556 |
36.34% 855th/2353 |
- |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
58.24% 1297th/2227 |
53.62% 1303rd/2430 |
39.89% 1138th/2853 |
49.15% 1364th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - |
55.91% 1967th/3518 |
- |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - |
56.72% 2946th/5194 |
- |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- |
66.98% 3459th/5164 |
- |
67.40% 5030th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Giles" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Giles"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Giles" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.