📖 About Hilary
Hilary is an English name derived from the Latin *Hilarius* and Greek *hilaros*, meaning cheerful or joyful. Saint Hilarius of Poitiers (c. 310–367 AD) popularized the name across medieval Europe, and England's Hilary Term — the university and legal semester starting in January — bears his name to this day. Once used for both sexes, Hilary became predominantly feminine in the 20th century, peaking in popularity in the UK and Australia during the 1960s–70s.
📍 Details
- OriginItalian
- Gender♀ Female
- MeaningVariant of Ilaria. Cheerful, joyful
🔀 Variants & Related Names
⭐ Famous People
- Hilary Swank — American actress and two-time Academy Award winner, known for her roles in Boys Don't Cry and Million Dollar Baby.
- Hilary Duff — American actress and singer who rose to fame as the star of Disney Channel's Lizzie McGuire and went on to a successful music career.
- Hilary Mantel — British author who won the Booker Prize twice, for Wolf Hall (2009) and Bring Up the Bodies (2012), both novels about Thomas Cromwell.
- Saint Hilarius of Poitiers — 4th-century bishop and theologian, the first person named Hilarius to achieve wide historical recognition; his feast day gave name to the English Hilary Term.