Holding steady.
Popularity of Hilding since 1892
Babies named Hilding per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1915, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Hilding's real moment was 1902.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 10 |
| 1900s | 6 |
| 1910s | 101 |
| 1920s | 57 |
| 1930s | 10 |
| 1940s | 7 |
| 1950s | 0 |
| 1960s | 0 |
| 1970s | 0 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Hilding is a distinctly Scandinavian masculine name with deep roots in Old Norse. First recorded in the U.S. in 1892, it saw its peak usage in 1902, after which its frequency declined sharply. Despite never entering the top 1000, it maintained very low but stable usage over subsequent decades, as reflected in its recent flat trajectory. The name has not been among the top names in any state, indicating its rarity. For families valuing Nordic heritage, Hilding offers a historically grounded option with a strong, battle-related meaning that connects to the Viking Age.
Derived from Old Norse 'hildr' meaning 'battle' or 'war'. It was a common element in Norse personal names and appears in runic inscriptions. The name has been in use in Sweden and Norway since medieval times, often as a short form of names beginning with Hild-.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Hildi, Hilde
Sibling names for Hilding
Names that share Hilding's style, for a brother or sister.
