Declining since 1985, #5,722 for girls today.
Popularity of Jill since 1906
Babies named Jill per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1900s | 5 |
| 1910s | 53 |
| 1920s | 256 |
| 1930s | 1,578 |
| 1940s | 11,865 |
| 1950s | 39,061 |
| 1960s | 69,144 |
| 1970s | 55,070 |
| 1980s | 24,407 |
| 1990s | 4,748 |
| 2000s | 1,335 |
| 2010s | 425 |
| 2020s | 124 |
Meaning & origin
Jill, recorded since 1906, enjoyed peak popularity in 1966, when it was one of the most common names for girls in the United States. Since 1985, its usage has steadily declined, reflecting broader trends in naming preferences. In 2025, approximately 1 in every 76,537 newborn girls receives the name, placing it at rank 5,722. The name's trajectory illustrates a shift away from the simple, paired names popular in the mid-20th century toward more diverse choices. While not currently tied to any particular state, Jill remains a recognizable staple of English-language naming, often linked with its masculine counterpart Jack.
Jill originated as a medieval English variant of Gillian, itself derived from the Latin name Julia (from the Roman family name Julius, possibly meaning 'youthful'). The name gained widespread use as a paired counterpart to Jack in nursery rhymes and proverbs, such as 'Jack and Jill'. It became particularly popular in the mid-20th century.
Where Jill is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Jill” around the world
Where Jill lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
30
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Sibling names for Jill
Names that share Jill's style, for a brother or sister.
Names like Jill
Names whose popularity has moved with Jill's over the last 50 years.
