A 1900s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Hill since 1884
Babies named Hill per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1919, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Hill's real moment was 1905.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 6 |
| 1890s | 22 |
| 1900s | 16 |
| 1910s | 103 |
| 1920s | 119 |
| 1930s | 74 |
| 1940s | 57 |
| 1950s | 44 |
| 1960s | 11 |
| 1970s | 5 |
| 1980s | 11 |
| 1990s | 13 |
| 2000s | 29 |
| 2010s | 41 |
| 2020s | 26 |
Meaning & origin
Hill is a topographic surname turned given name, reflecting a longstanding tradition in English naming practices. First recorded as a given name in 1884, it peaked in popularity in 1905, and after a period of decline, it has been rising again since 2020. The name is an example of a revival from the early 20th century, with the 1900s decade showing a particular cluster of use. In 2025, it ranked 10,695th, with an estimated 1 in 284,679 boys receiving the name. As a surname-derived given name, Hill aligns with other nature-inspired and geographic names, though it remains uncommon, appealing to those seeking a distinctive yet simple option.
Hill is an English topographic surname transferred to given name use, deriving from the Old English 'hyll' meaning 'hill'. As a surname it was used for someone who lived on or near a hill. Its use as a first name emerged in the late 19th century, following the common Victorian practice of adopting surnames as given names. Though never widespread, it has seen occasional use, particularly in the United States.
Nicknames & variants
Variants: Hills
Sibling names for Hill
Names that share Hill's style, for a brother or sister.
