Declining since 2022, #10,695 for boys today.
Popularity of Hilal since 1995
Babies named Hilal per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 11 | 5 |
| 2000s | 17 | 15 |
| 2010s | 16 | 12 |
| 2020s | 22 | 48 |
Meaning & origin
Hilal is an Arabic unisex name that entered U.S. records in 1997, gradually gaining modest use. Its peak year so far was 2022, after which it has seen a slight decline through 2025, when it ranked 10,695. With a 1-in-284,679 occurrence rate, it remains uncommon in the United States, though it carries strong cultural and religious resonance in Muslim communities. The name's connection to the crescent moon, a symbol central to the Islamic calendar, gives it a distinct and meaningful identity. Despite its rarity, Hilal has not been concentrated in any particular U.S. state, reflecting its broad but sparse adoption across the country.
Hilal comes directly from Arabic هلال (hilāl), meaning 'crescent moon.' In Islamic culture, the crescent moon marks the beginning and end of lunar months, including Ramadan and Shawwal. It is used as a given name across the Arabic-speaking world and in Muslim communities elsewhere.
“Hilal” around the world
Where Hilal lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
25
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Hil, Lalo
Variants: Helal
Sibling names for Hilal
Names that share Hilal's style, for a brother or sister.
