Holding steady.
Popularity of Gillie since 1881
Babies named Gillie per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 19 | 0 |
| 1890s | 80 | 6 |
| 1900s | 55 | 0 |
| 1910s | 79 | 38 |
| 1920s | 32 | 66 |
| 1930s | 35 | 45 |
| 1940s | 11 | 14 |
| 1950s | 10 | 7 |
| 1960s | 0 | 10 |
| 1970s | 0 | 0 |
| 1980s | 0 | 0 |
| 1990s | 0 | 5 |
| 2000s | 0 | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Gillie is a rare and unisex name, most common during the 1890s. Its peak year was 1891, though no exact count is available from the data. It has shown a stable trajectory since its first recorded appearance in 1881, but has never ranked in the top 1,000. The name evokes a classic Scottish charm, and is typically a pet form of Gillian or a variant of the Gaelic word for 'servant'. It remains a choice for families seeking a distinctive, vintage name with Scottish roots.
Gillie developed as a Scottish pet form of Gillian, the feminine form of Julian, which derives from the Roman family name Iulius. The Latin word 'iūvenis' means 'young', so the name carries an association with youth. Historically, the name also appears as a surname in Scotland and Northern England, sometimes from Gaelic 'gille' meaning 'servant' or 'lad'. As a given name, it saw its highest use in the late 19th century, particularly in Scotland.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Gil, Gilly
Variants: Gilly
Sibling names for Gillie
Names that share Gillie's style, for a brother or sister.
