Gillian vs Hilary
Gillian and Hilarycompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2010, Gillian was ranked #663 and Hilary #663 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2023, Gillian was ranked #4709 and Hilary #4709 among girls in England and Wales.
Gillian and Hilary over time
Gillian and Hilary appear together in 2 published lists, across 66 years of shared records. Gillian held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Hilary in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Hilary reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Gillian in none. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
How this pair is related
The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Gillian and Hilary changed places 5 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2023, ending at #4709 and #4709.
- Longest-running competitions
Gillian and Hilary were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 45 years, from 1964 to 2010, ending at #663 and #663.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Gillian #703 in 1996, Hilary #916 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls45 shared years, 1964–2010
Gillian held the stronger position in 43 of those years, Hilary in 0.
Highest recorded here: Gillian #27 in 1977, Hilary #106 in 1965.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2010: Gillian #663, Hilary #663.
England and Wales · Girls21 shared years, 1996–2023
Gillian held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Hilary in 8.
Highest recorded here: Gillian #703 in 1996, Hilary #916 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Gillian #4709, Hilary #4709.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Side by side
| Field | Gillian | Hilary |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ | GB-ENW, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #3695 (2024) | England and Wales · Girls #4709 (2023) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 60/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Gillian has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Hilary.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, IE.
How each name got here
Gillian
Popularity journey
First recorded1954
First recorded at #64 among girls in New Zealand in 1954 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2023
Highest recorded position: #27 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1977 (recorded 1964–2023).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #3695 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls
Hilary
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #129 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2010
Highest recorded position: #106 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1965 (recorded 1964–2010).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2023
Most recently recorded at #4709 among girls in England and Wales, in 2023.
England and Wales · Girls