“ravine, glen”
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A name. A world of connections.
A given name in English
Hear the name
English (Southern England)
01 / Meaning & origin
Gillian is a feminine given name documented in English.
Separate records with matching spellings: Gillian (English)
No etymology is recorded in our sources for this spelling yet. The record exists because the name is documented in use; a meaning will be shown only once a cited source supports it.
02 / Across borders
Explore published naming statistics and documented language connections around the world.
The name atlas
14
countries in our sources
Select a country to follow Gillian’s connections around the world.
10 countries with published statistics. Language records show cultural connections; they do not measure how common a name is.
Selected country
Statistics + language records
United States, 2025: 47 girls (rank 3296). Documented as a given name in English.
Explore United States4 of 14 countries
03 / By the numbers
Follow the spelling through the years, one published dataset at a time.
1880–2025 Spelling: Gillian
Hover to explore a year. Use arrow keys when a chart point has focus.
Source: US Social Security Administration; redistributed by nkrishnaswami · SSA national baby names, 1880–2025 (CC0 redistribution)
Integer application counts retained without rounding.
Per million is unavailable: this source has no matching published total.
| Year | Applications | Rank | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | no value | no value | not covered |
| 1881 | no value | no value | not covered |
| 1882 | no value | no value | not covered |
| 1883 | no value | no value | not covered |
| 1884 | no value | no value | not covered |
| 1885 | no value | no value | not covered |
| 1886 | no value | no value | not covered |
| 1887 | no value | no value | not covered |
| 1888 | no value | no value | not covered |
| 1889 | no value | no value | not covered |
| 1890 | no value | no value | not covered |
| 1891 | no value | no value | not covered |
| 1892 | no value | no value | not covered |
| 1893 | no value | no value | not covered |
| 1894 | no value | no value | not covered |
| 1895 | no value | no value | not covered |
| 1896 | no value | no value | not covered |
| 1897 | no value | no value | not covered |
| 1898 | no value | no value | not covered |
| 1899 | no value | no value | not covered |
| 1900 | no value | no value | not covered |
| 1901 | no value | no value | not covered |
| 1902 | no value | no value | not covered |
| 1903 | no value | no value | not covered |
| 1904 | no value | no value | not covered |
| 1905 | no value | no value | not covered |
| 1906 | no value | no value | not covered |
| 1907 | no value | no value | not covered |
| 1908 | no value | no value | not covered |
| 1909 | no value | no value | not covered |
| 1910 | no value | no value | not covered |
| 1911 | no value | no value | not covered |
| 1912 | no value | no value | not covered |
| 1913 | no value | no value | not covered |
| 1914 | no value | no value | not covered |
| 1915 | no value | no value | not covered |
| 1916 | no value | no value | not covered |
| 1917 | no value | no value | not covered |
| 1918 | no value | no value | not covered |
| 1919 | no value | no value | not covered |
| 1920 | no value | no value | not covered |
| 1921 | no value | no value | not covered |
| 1922 | 5 | 5,009 | observed |
| 1923 | no value | no value | not covered |
| 1924 | no value | no value | not covered |
| 1925 | no value | no value | not covered |
| 1926 | no value | no value | not covered |
| 1927 | no value | no value | not covered |
| 1928 | no value | no value | not covered |
| 1929 | no value | no value | not covered |
| 1930 | no value | no value | not covered |
| 1931 | no value | no value | not covered |
| 1932 | no value | no value | not covered |
| 1933 | no value | no value | not covered |
| 1934 | no value | no value | not covered |
| 1935 | no value | no value | not covered |
| 1936 | no value | no value | not covered |
| 1937 | 6 | 3,800 | observed |
| 1938 | 6 | 3,847 | observed |
| 1939 | no value | no value | not covered |
| 1940 | 7 | 3,503 | observed |
| 1941 | 9 | 3,030 | observed |
| 1942 | 7 | 3,738 | observed |
| 1943 | 10 | 3,040 | observed |
| 1944 | 7 | 3,687 | observed |
| 1945 | 13 | 2,458 | observed |
| 1946 | 11 | 3,034 | observed |
| 1947 | 22 | 2,089 | observed |
| 1948 | 19 | 2,255 | observed |
| 1949 | 23 | 2,013 | observed |
| 1950 | 18 | 2,341 | observed |
| 1951 | 19 | 2,314 | observed |
| 1952 | 16 | 2,671 | observed |
| 1953 | 19 | 2,431 | observed |
| 1954 | 16 | 2,779 | observed |
| 1955 | 29 | 1,978 | observed |
| 1956 | 26 | 2,151 | observed |
| 1957 | 31 | 1,957 | observed |
| 1958 | 25 | 2,260 | observed |
| 1959 | 35 | 1,881 | observed |
| 1960 | 19 | 2,820 | observed |
| 1961 | 51 | 1,580 | observed |
| 1962 | 65 | 1,376 | observed |
| 1963 | 61 | 1,429 | observed |
| 1964 | 70 | 1,344 | observed |
| 1965 | 82 | 1,187 | observed |
| 1966 | 83 | 1,171 | observed |
| 1967 | 84 | 1,155 | observed |
| 1968 | 116 | 958 | observed |
| 1969 | 127 | 943 | observed |
| 1970 | 125 | 997 | observed |
| 1971 | 121 | 1,021 | observed |
| 1972 | 128 | 949 | observed |
| 1973 | 139 | 897 | observed |
| 1974 | 110 | 1,070 | observed |
| 1975 | 100 | 1,155 | observed |
| 1976 | 95 | 1,191 | observed |
| 1977 | 162 | 884 | observed |
| 1978 | 175 | 846 | observed |
| 1979 | 174 | 878 | observed |
| 1980 | 173 | 884 | observed |
| 1981 | 222 | 743 | observed |
| 1982 | 255 | 686 | observed |
| 1983 | 227 | 727 | observed |
| 1984 | 255 | 671 | observed |
| 1985 | 234 | 737 | observed |
| 1986 | 209 | 802 | observed |
| 1987 | 265 | 692 | observed |
| 1988 | 281 | 683 | observed |
| 1989 | 263 | 748 | observed |
| 1990 | 238 | 822 | observed |
| 1991 | 208 | 923 | observed |
| 1992 | 197 | 969 | observed |
| 1993 | 176 | 1,044 | observed |
| 1994 | 162 | 1,105 | observed |
| 1995 | 221 | 870 | observed |
| 1996 | 379 | 604 | observed |
| 1997 | 659 | 395 | observed |
| 1998 | 890 | 331 | observed |
| 1999 | 1,022 | 303 | observed |
| 2000 | 976 | 325 | observed |
| 2001 | 863 | 348 | observed |
| 2002 | 761 | 388 | observed |
| 2003 | 638 | 467 | observed |
| 2004 | 513 | 556 | observed |
| 2005 | 420 | 659 | observed |
| 2006 | 362 | 758 | observed |
| 2007 | 366 | 790 | observed |
| 2008 | 339 | 834 | observed |
| 2009 | 251 | 1,037 | observed |
| 2010 | 211 | 1,153 | observed |
| 2011 | 188 | 1,266 | observed |
| 2012 | 166 | 1,392 | observed |
| 2013 | 120 | 1,725 | observed |
| 2014 | 125 | 1,684 | observed |
| 2015 | 120 | 1,743 | observed |
| 2016 | 105 | 1,908 | observed |
| 2017 | 81 | 2,283 | observed |
| 2018 | 88 | 2,145 | observed |
| 2019 | 59 | 2,814 | observed |
| 2020 | 52 | 3,061 | observed |
| 2021 | 51 | 3,157 | observed |
| 2022 | 52 | 3,123 | observed |
| 2023 | 51 | 3,181 | observed |
| 2024 | 52 | 3,081 | observed |
| 2025 | 47 | 3,296 | observed |
Statistics count the spelling “Gillian” as recorded by the publisher. When a spelling has several independent origins, the counts are not split between them. Counts measure applications. Gaps are years without a published value, not zeros.
Rates per million are unavailable for this series because no compatible denominator has been imported.
Retrieved 2026-10-15 · CC0-1.0
Read our methodology04 / Through time
Passages quoted verbatim from public-domain reference works. They reflect the scholarship of their time, not current consensus, and may use obsolete spellings.
Gillian— “downy”
The feminine was already abroad in the Roman empire in the days of martyrdom, when St. Juliana was beheaded at Nicomedia under Galerius; and in the days of Gregory the Great, her relics were supposed to be at Rome, but were afterwards divided between Brussels and Sablon. She is said to have been especially honoured in the Low Countries, and must likewise have been in high favour in Normandy, perhaps through the Flemish Duchess Matilda. Julienne was in vogue among the Norman…
The feminine was already abroad in the Roman empire in the days of martyrdom, when St. Juliana was beheaded at Nicomedia under Galerius; and in the days of Gregory the Great, her relics were supposed to be at Rome, but were afterwards divided between Brussels and Sablon. She is said to have been especially honoured in the Low Countries, and must likewise have been in high favour in Normandy, perhaps through the Flemish Duchess Matilda. Julienne was in vogue among the Norman families, and belonged to that illegitimate daughter of Henry I. whose children he so terribly maltreated in revenge for their father’s rebellion; and it long prevailed in England as Julyan: witness the heraldic and hunting prioress, Dame Julyan Berners; and, indeed, it became so common as Gillian, that Jill was the regular companion of Jack, as still appears in nursery rhyme; though now this good old form has almost entirely disappeared, except in the occasional un-English form of Juliana. In Brittany, it has lasted on as Suliana, the proper name of the nun-sister of Du Guesclin, who assisted his brave wife to disconcert the night assault of their late prisoner.
Yonge, History of Christian Names (1884), Part IV, Chapter III (Nomina), Section VIII (Julius) · Public domain (Project Gutenberg)
People recorded with this given name in Wikidata. Their names may use a different spelling, or include it as a middle or baptismal name.
American actress (born 1968)
American author and critic
American film, theater and television actress
Hong Kong actress and singer
film director
A little story to keep
Take the story of Gillian with you. Create a personal name passport with its meaning, roots and connections.
06 / Behind the facts
Review status: Source-reported — no editorial review recorded yet. Last data change 2026-10-15.
SSA national baby names, 1880–2025 (CC0 redistribution)
US Social Security Administration; redistributed by nkrishnaswami · CC0-1.0 · retrieved 2026-10-15
Ontario first baby names, 1913–2023 (verified redistribution)
Government of Ontario; redistributed by helloharun · OGL-ON-1.0 · retrieved 2026-10-15
Ontario top baby names, historical archive 1917–2013
Government of Ontario (Office of the Registrar General) · OGL-ON-1.0 · retrieved 2026-10-15
British Columbia — 100 Years of Popular Baby Names (first names used 5 or more times), 1926-2025
Government of British Columbia, Vital Statistics Agency · OGL-BC (Open Government License - British Columbia; version not stated on the page) · retrieved 2026-10-15
South Australia — Popular Baby Names, per-year lists including names given once, 1944-2017
Attorney-General's Department, South Australia (via data.sa.gov.au) · CC-BY-4.0 · retrieved 2026-10-15
Ireland — babies' first names with three or more occurrences, 1964–2025
Central Statistics Office (CSO), Ireland · CC-BY-4.0 · retrieved 2026-10-15
Fichier des prénoms — édition 2026 (naissances 1900 à 2025), fichier national
Insee (Institut national de la statistique et des études économiques) · LO-2.0 · retrieved 2026-10-14
National Records of Scotland — Babies' First Names: all first forenames given to 3 or more babies, Scotland, 1974-2025
National Records of Scotland (NRS) · OGL-UK-3.0 · retrieved 2026-10-15
New Zealand — DIA published top 100 baby first names per sex, 1954–2025
Department of Internal Affairs (DIA), New Zealand · CC-BY-4.0 · retrieved 2026-10-15
Statistik Austria — Vornamen (OGDEXT_VORNAMEN_1): first names of live births, Austria, 1984-2025 (national counts from district rows)
Statistik Austria (Bundesanstalt Statistik Österreich) · CC-BY-4.0 · retrieved 2026-10-15
NISRA — First Forenames Given to Babies Registered in Northern Ireland, 1997-2025 (full list)
Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) · OGL-UK-3.0 · retrieved 2026-10-15
Spain — first names of residents, census snapshot 2025-01-01
Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE), Spain · CC-BY-4.0 · retrieved 2026-10-15
Finland — first given names of living Finnish citizens in Finland or abroad, 2026-08-03
Digital and Population Data Services Agency (DVV), Finland · CC-BY-4.0 · retrieved 2026-10-15
Baby names in England and Wales: 2025 (boys and girls workbooks, Table 6: all published names)
Office for National Statistics (ONS) · OGL-UK-3.0 · retrieved 2026-10-14
Wiktionary text: CC BY-SA 4.0. Wikidata: CC0. Commons recordings retain their individual file licences. Complete attribution is available in each group above and alongside each chart.
