Holding steady.
Popularity of Hilery since 1916
Babies named Hilery per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1923, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Hilery's real moment was 1934.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1910s | 0 | 12 |
| 1920s | 0 | 41 |
| 1930s | 0 | 9 |
| 1940s | 0 | 11 |
| 1950s | 0 | 0 |
| 1960s | 0 | 0 |
| 1970s | 12 | 0 |
| 1980s | 11 | 0 |
| 1990s | 13 | 0 |
| 2000s | 0 | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Hilery is a rare spelling variant of the more familiar Hillary or Hilary. The name first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1916, a time when many Latin-derived names were popular. It reached its peak usage in 1934, during a period when similar-sounding names like Beverly and Shirley were fashionable. Hilery has a stable trajectory, with very low but consistent use over the decades, never ranking in the top 1000. The name is unisex, though it has been used slightly more often for girls in the modern era. Its meaning, 'cheerful,' is a positive attribute, and the spelling with an 'e' gives it a distinctive touch.
Hilery is a variant spelling of Hillary, which comes from the Latin name Hilaria (feminine) or Hilarius (masculine), both derived from 'hilaris' meaning 'cheerful' or 'happy'. The name was popularized by Saint Hilarius of Poitiers in the 4th century. In the English-speaking world, it was traditionally masculine but has become more common for females since the 20th century.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Hil, Lerry
Sibling names for Hilery
Names that share Hilery's style, for a brother or sister.
