Hilliard Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Hilliard is an Old English name meaning 'battle guard', evolved from the personal name Hildegard. Its usage began in medieval England and has maintained a presence into modern times. The name reflects traits of strength and protection, with no notable biblical connections.
The name Hilliard is most popular in Alabama, 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, Hilliard has been stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South. Across generations, 'Hilliard' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 1014th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 1390th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 1845th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 3586th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 8295th out of 16616 names. Discover how the name 'Hilliard' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Hilliard"
Pronunciation
/ˈhɪljərd/
Origin
Old English
Etymology
The name Hilliard is derived from the Old English personal name 'Hildegard', which means 'battle guard'. It combines the elements 'hild', meaning 'battle', and 'gard', meaning 'enclosure' or 'protection'.
Meaning
battle guard
Language Evolution
Hildegard (Old English), Hilliard (Middle English), Hilliard (Modern English)
Historical Usage
The name Hilliard gained popularity in England during the medieval period, especially among the Norman nobility after the Norman Conquest of 1066. It has remained in use as both a surname and given name into modern times.
Variants & Derivatives
Hilliard, Hilliardson, Hillyard
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, Hilliard is perceived as a traditional and distinguished name, often associated with strength and protection. Its usage has declined but remains a respected choice.
Famous People
Hilliard Gates, American politician, Hilliard Atterbury, American architect, Hilliard S. Kauffman, American writer
Explore More Hilliard Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Hilliard"
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 "Hilliard"
"Hilliard" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 1014th of 7545 | 737 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 1390th of 6773 | 438 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 1845th of 7552 | 346 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 3586th of 10718 | 132 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 8295th of 16616 | 53 |
Regional Popularity of "Hilliard" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- |
72.30% 997th/1379 |
32.63% 772nd/2366 |
- |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - |
53.34% 1255th/2353 |
- |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- |
67.94% 1651st/2430 |
66.14% 1887th/2853 |
- |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - |
64.38% 2265th/3518 |
- |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Hilliard" 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 "Hilliard"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Hilliard" 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.