Holding steady.
Popularity of Hildagard since 1901
Babies named Hildagard per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1916, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Hildagard's real moment was 1901.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1900s | 9 |
| 1910s | 58 |
| 1920s | 48 |
| 1930s | 5 |
| 1940s | 0 |
| 1950s | 0 |
| 1960s | 0 |
| 1970s | 0 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Hildagard is a rare German name with a strong historical pedigree. According to U.S. Social Security data, the name first appeared on record in 1901, its peak year, and has since become extremely uncommon, with a trajectory described as stable but low. No top states are associated with its use, and it has not ranked in recent decades. The name's most famous bearer is Hildegard of Bingen, a 12th-century Benedictine abbess and polymath. While Hildagard is largely out of fashion, it offers a distinctive option for parents drawn to traditional Germanic names. Its central element, 'hild' (battle), places it among a historical group of names celebrating warrior virtues, though the 'gard' suffix softens the meaning to a protected enclosure.
Hildagard derives from the Old High German elements 'hiltja' (battle) and 'gard' (enclosure, protection). It was a common name among early medieval German nobility, notably borne by Saint Hildegard of Bingen (12th century), a learned abbess and composer. The name fell out of general use after the Middle Ages but saw a modest revival in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Hilda, Hildy
Variants: Hildegard, Hildegarde
Sibling names for Hildagard
Names that share Hildagard's style, for a brother or sister.
