Gillian
How to say it: JIL-ee-un · /ˈdʒɪliən/
English variant of Juliana, from Latin 'Iulianus' related to Julius, possibly meaning 'youthful' or 'sky father'.
Gillian was the 936th most popular girls’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 47 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 2000s, its births are down about 73% in ten years, and it is projected to slip to #1,221 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among girls’ names, 2025 | #936 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 47 |
| Share of births | 1 in 14,800 |
| Peak decade | 2000s |
| Change over 10 years | −73% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #1,221 |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Gillian peaked in the 2000s and is less common today.
What goes with it
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Gillian is about under 1 in 200.
Around the world
This spelling is used in English, French.
Famous people named Gillian
- Gillian Anderson (born 1968)American actress
- Gillian Flynn (born 1971)American author and critic
- Gillian Jacobs (born 1982)American film, theater and television actress
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
Keep exploring
Find names you'll both love, starting with Gillian
The one-minute style quiz.