Holding steady.
Popularity of Gilda since 1898
Babies named Gilda per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1947, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Gilda's real moment was 1927.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 6 |
| 1900s | 94 |
| 1910s | 899 |
| 1920s | 2,160 |
| 1930s | 1,224 |
| 1940s | 1,520 |
| 1950s | 2,079 |
| 1960s | 913 |
| 1970s | 462 |
| 1980s | 265 |
| 1990s | 262 |
| 2000s | 92 |
| 2010s | 62 |
| 2020s | 40 |
Meaning & origin
Gilda first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1898 and reached its peak popularity in 1927, when it ranked among the top 500 names. The name has since stabilized at a very low frequency, with fewer than five births per year in recent decades. Gilda is not recorded in the top 1000 for any year after 1993. Its usage has remained steady but rare, reflecting its status as a vintage name that never made a strong comeback. The name's early 20th-century peak coincides with a broader trend of short, melodic names in the 1920s. Despite its low current use, Gilda retains a classic, Italian-inflected charm.
Gilda likely derives from a short form of Germanic names containing the element gild, meaning 'payment' or 'sacrifice,' though it may also be a feminine form of Gildo. The name entered English through Italian usage, where it was popularized as a feminine given name in the late 19th century. Its use in English-speaking countries peaked in the 1920s.
Where Gilda is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Gilda” around the world
Where Gilda lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
5
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Gil
Sibling names for Gilda
Names that share Gilda's style, for a brother or sister.
