Holding steady.
Popularity of Gill since 1884
Babies named Gill per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1956, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Gill's real moment was 1884.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 5 |
| 1890s | 0 |
| 1900s | 0 |
| 1910s | 29 |
| 1920s | 67 |
| 1930s | 53 |
| 1940s | 184 |
| 1950s | 378 |
| 1960s | 211 |
| 1970s | 106 |
| 1980s | 77 |
| 1990s | 79 |
| 2000s | 29 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Gill is a concise name with deep Scottish roots, originally derived from the Gaelic 'gille' meaning 'servant' and used in many medieval compound names. Its peak year in the U.S. was 1884, when it first appeared in the Social Security records, but it has since become exceedingly rare. While it was once a fairly common masculine nickname for Gilbert, the name's trajectory has been stable but incredibly low, with no recorded uptick in recent decades. The name's simplicity and connection to Scottish heritage may appeal to families looking for a short, traditional name with a strong historical background.
Gill originated as a medieval Scottish name, a contraction of the Gaelic 'Gille' meaning 'servant'. It was often used as a prefix in compound names like Gilchrist (servant of Christ) and Gilbride (servant of Saint Brigid). Later, it became a short form of Gilbert (from Old English 'Gislberht') and Gillian (from Latin 'Juliana'). As a given name, it has been used for both genders, though its popularity peaked in the late 19th century as a masculine name.
Nicknames & variants
Sibling names for Gill
Names that share Gill's style, for a brother or sister.
