Gillian Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Gillian has Latin origins, derived from 'Julius', meaning youthful or downy-bearded. It evolved through Old French and Middle English forms. The name is generally associated with qualities such as sophistication and intelligence. There is no direct biblical relevance associated with the name.
The name Gillian is most popular in Connecticut, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) generation in the Northeast region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Gillian has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Gillian' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 9749th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 10692nd out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 15718th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 21740th out of 23106 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 9107th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 4676th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 1987th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 1004th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 808th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 541st out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 2315th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Gillian' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Gillian"
Pronunciation
/ˈdʒɪliən/
Origin
Latin
Etymology
The name Gillian is derived from the Latin name 'Julius', which is thought to be related to the Roman family name 'Julius', meaning 'downy-bearded' or 'youthful'. The name evolved through the Old French form 'Gillian' and gained popularity in English-speaking countries.
Meaning
youthful, downy-bearded
Language Evolution
Julius (Latin), Gillian (Old French), Gillian (Middle English)
Historical Usage
Gillian gained popularity in the English-speaking world during the 20th century, particularly in the United States and the United Kingdom, becoming a fashionable name in the 1970s and 1980s.
Variants & Derivatives
Jill, Gilly, Jillian
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Gillian is viewed as a classic and elegant name, often associated with qualities such as sophistication and intelligence. It remains moderately popular in contemporary naming trends.
Famous People
Gillian Anderson, Gillian Flynn, Gillian Jacobs
Explore More Gillian Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Gillian"
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 "Gillian"
"Gillian" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 9749th of 10718 | 8 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 10692nd of 16616 | 27 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 15718th of 24088 | 27 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 21740th of 23106 | 6 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 9107th of 9107 | 5 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 4676th of 9204 | 65 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 1987th of 12526 | 575 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 1004th of 19264 | 1,994 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 808th of 27321 | 3,792 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 541st of 35406 | 8,625 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 2315th of 30306 | 955 |
Regional Popularity of "Gillian" by Generation for Male 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) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Gillian" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- |
100.00% 1556th/1556 |
- | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
89.99% 2004th/2227 |
52.55% 1277th/2430 |
- |
65.08% 1806th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
40.89% 1201st/2937 |
17.63% 614th/3483 |
53.58% 1885th/3518 |
25.69% 1039th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
25.32% 933rd/3685 |
10.59% 474th/4475 |
22.37% 1162nd/5194 |
13.52% 854th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
10.96% 502nd/4582 |
7.15% 369th/5164 |
9.31% 681st/7313 |
7.93% 592nd/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
53.46% 2130th/3984 |
48.18% 2162nd/4487 |
41.03% 2799th/6822 |
37.91% 2379th/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Gillian"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Gillian" 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.