Declining since 2004, #3,296 for girls today.
Popularity of Pilar since 1896
Babies named Pilar per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1890s | 10 | 0 |
| 1900s | 28 | 0 |
| 1910s | 154 | 55 |
| 1920s | 261 | 123 |
| 1930s | 165 | 78 |
| 1940s | 138 | 88 |
| 1950s | 246 | 101 |
| 1960s | 530 | 86 |
| 1970s | 626 | 63 |
| 1980s | 573 | 73 |
| 1990s | 760 | 60 |
| 2000s | 1,099 | 26 |
| 2010s | 627 | 0 |
| 2020s | 288 | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Pilar is a Spanish name with deep religious roots, deriving from the Marian title Our Lady of the Pillar (Nuestra Señora del Pilar). It first appeared in U.S. records in 1896, reflecting early 20th-century immigration from Spanish-speaking countries. The name reached its peak popularity in 2005, when it ranked highest among recorded years. Since 2004, however, its usage has been declining, falling to a rank of 3,296 in 2025 with a frequency of 1 in every 34,197 births. The name is most common in states with large Hispanic populations, namely Florida, New York, and California. While not as widely used as some other Spanish names like Sofia or Carmen, Pilar retains a classic, understated elegance.
Pilar is a Spanish name meaning 'pillar,' taken from the title of the Virgin Mary, Nuestra Señora del Pilar ('Our Lady of the Pillar'). The title refers to a vision of the Virgin Mary appearing on a pillar in Zaragoza, Spain, in the 1st century. The name has been used in Spanish-speaking countries since at least the 19th century and gained wider recognition through devotion to this Marian title.
Where Pilar 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.
“Pilar” around the world
Where Pilar lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
5
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Pili, Pila
Sibling names for Pilar
Names that share Pilar's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Sofia, Carmen, Rosa, Esperanza, Lucia, Concepcion, Consuelo, Dolores, Rocio, Rosario, Angeles, Candelaria, Caridad, Concha, Conchita, Maricruz, Marita, Milagro, Natividad, Refugia, Soledad, Carmencita, Conception, Mariadelcarmen, Mariaguadalupe, Agapita, Armenta, Asuncion, Blasa, Charo, Moncerrat, Nieves, Inocencia, Librada, Mariadel, Obdulia, Olita, Pascuala, Providencia, Sagrario
Brothers: Jose, Antonio, Manuel, Javier, Diego, Bernabe, Evaristo, Rosendo, Blas, Conrado, Refugio, Ysidro, Ascencion, Chico, Eleuterio, Encarnacion, Eulogio, Higinio, Melchor, Merced, Prudencio, Bienvenido, Crescencio, Onofre, Antolin, Ceferino, Crecencio, Frutoso
