Fun Facts About the Name Jillian
- A favorite of earlier generations: Jillian appeared in the U.S. top 100 in 2 separate runs, totaling 2 years. Its last run lasted 1 consecutive years, from 1987 through 1987.
- More than 83 thousand babies named Jillian: U.S. records list 83,422 babies given the name Jillian from 1880 through 2025. Even 227 boys received the name Jillian - about 1 boy for every 366 girls.
What Does the Name Jillian Mean?
Jillian is an English feminine name with the customary meaning "youthful." It is usually understood as a variant of Gillian, a medieval English form of Juliana. Juliana is the feminine of the Latin Julianus, which comes from the Roman family name Julius.
The Latin Iulius is of uncertain origin. One ancient explanation derives it from Greek ioulos, meaning "downy-bearded," the first beard of a young man, which would make "youthful" a reasonable extension. Other explanations connect it with Iuppiter (Jupiter) or with the legendary Iulus, but these are not securely established. The literal sense of the root is therefore disputed, while "youthful" is the traditional meaning attached to the name.
Jillian Name History & Origins
Juliana was a Roman feminine name and was used by early Christians. Saint Juliana of Nicomedia was venerated as a martyr, and Saint Juliana of Liège, a 13th-century nun, was another important religious figure. In medieval England, Juliana became the vernacular Gillian, in which the J sound was written with G. Gillian was common in the Middle Ages, and the short form Jill developed from it.
Jillian is an English spelling of the same name, aligned with the Latin-derived forms Julian and Juliana rather than with the medieval G spelling. It is usually treated as a variant of Gillian, not as a separate name with its own etymology. Some references describe Jillian as a feminine form of Julian, but that description reflects the same Latin root. In modern English use, Jillian and Gillian are pronounced alike, and Jillian often serves as a more formal form of Jill.
How Popular is the Name Jillian?
Jillian recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 1982. Jillian ranked among the top 100 U.S. names from 1982 through 1982, then returned in 1987 and remained through 1987.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #1,266 | 177 | 0.0110% |
| 2024 | #1,132 | 213 | 0.0132% |
| 2023 | #1,140 | 213 | 0.0133% |
| 2022 | #1,084 | 231 | 0.0141% |
| 2021 | #1,011 | 253 | 0.0154% |
| 2020 | #956 | 267 | 0.0165% |
| 2019 | #787 | 353 | 0.0210% |
| 2018 | #734 | 383 | 0.0225% |
| 2017 | #574 | 525 | 0.0304% |
| 2016 | #518 | 602 | 0.0340% |
| 2015 | #440 | 721 | 0.0404% |
| 2014 | #385 | 848 | 0.0475% |
| 2013 | #342 | 945 | 0.0539% |
| 2012 | #286 | 1,102 | 0.0626% |
| 2011 | #221 | 1,431 | 0.0814% |
| 2010 | #170 | 1,819 | 0.1023% |
| 2009 | #157 | 2,041 | 0.1111% |
| 2008 | #174 | 1,905 | 0.1008% |
| 2007 | #187 | 1,787 | 0.0930% |
| 2006 | #174 | 2,004 | 0.1054% |
| 2005 | #161 | 2,121 | 0.1148% |
| 2004 | #152 | 2,179 | 0.1187% |
| 2003 | #135 | 2,425 | 0.1327% |
| 2002 | #125 | 2,734 | 0.1522% |
| 2001 | #120 | 2,847 | 0.1581% |
| 2000 | #120 | 2,779 | 0.1530% |
| 1999 | #142 | 2,280 | 0.1285% |
| 1998 | #158 | 2,015 | 0.1140% |
| 1997 | #166 | 1,849 | 0.1062% |
| 1996 | #199 | 1,462 | 0.0834% |
| 1995 | #197 | 1,503 | 0.0855% |
| 1994 | #191 | 1,542 | 0.0864% |
| 1993 | #157 | 1,980 | 0.1095% |
| 1992 | #149 | 2,041 | 0.1107% |
| 1991 | #136 | 2,377 | 0.1268% |
| 1990 | #122 | 2,676 | 0.1410% |
| 1989 | #106 | 2,922 | 0.1585% |
| 1988 | #104 | 2,746 | 0.1542% |
| 1987 | #99 | 2,793 | 0.1606% |
| 1986 | #107 | 2,587 | 0.1508% |
| 1985 | #115 | 2,475 | 0.1438% |
| 1984 | #106 | 2,624 | 0.1558% |
| 1983 | #115 | 2,514 | 0.1505% |
| 1982 | #96 | 3,056 | 0.1805% |
| 1981 | #137 | 2,079 | 0.1246% |
| 1980 | #171 | 1,650 | 0.0994% |
| 1979 | #179 | 1,507 | 0.0939% |
| 1978 | #194 | 1,339 | 0.0874% |
| 1977 | #236 | 1,054 | 0.0687% |
| 1976 | #615 | 255 | 0.0174% |
| 1975 | #1,259 | 89 | 0.0061% |
| 1974 | #1,272 | 85 | 0.0058% |
| 1973 | #1,172 | 93 | 0.0064% |
| 1972 | #1,107 | 101 | 0.0066% |
| 1971 | #1,521 | 66 | 0.0040% |
| 1970 | #1,395 | 75 | 0.0043% |
| 1969 | #1,766 | 48 | 0.0028% |
| 1968 | #1,238 | 78 | 0.0048% |
| 1967 | #1,769 | 43 | 0.0026% |
| 1966 | #2,122 | 31 | 0.0018% |
| 1965 | #2,268 | 28 | 0.0016% |
| 1964 | #2,171 | 31 | 0.0016% |
| 1963 | #2,579 | 23 | 0.0012% |
| 1962 | #2,628 | 22 | 0.0011% |
| 1961 | #3,386 | 15 | 0.0007% |
| 1960 | #3,572 | 13 | 0.0006% |
| 1959 | #5,260 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 1958 | #5,709 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1957 | #3,209 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1956 | #3,573 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1955 | #4,931 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1954 | #3,832 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1953 | #4,788 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1952 | #3,453 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1951 | #5,107 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1950 | #4,986 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1949 | #5,597 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1948 | #3,051 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1947 | #2,692 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1944 | #4,877 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | #13,372 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2006 | #11,279 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2005 | #12,277 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2004 | #8,498 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2003 | #11,746 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2000 | #6,551 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1995 | #9,511 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1994 | #9,498 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1993 | #6,497 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1991 | #8,825 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1990 | #4,277 | 13 | 0.0006% |
| 1989 | #3,262 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 1988 | #4,597 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1987 | #3,843 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1986 | #3,744 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1985 | #3,687 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1984 | #3,184 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1983 | #2,729 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1982 | #3,194 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1981 | #3,985 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1980 | #4,302 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1979 | #5,688 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1978 | #4,338 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1977 | #3,713 | 10 | 0.0006% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Explore Name Lists Featuring Jillian
Carl appears in several baby name collections based on U.S. popularity records, naming trends, and name characteristics. Explore these lists to discover other names with similar histories, styles, or features.
Past Favorite Girl Names
Explore More Lists with Name Jillian
Most Popular Girl Names That Start with J
How the Name Jillian Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are honest, benevolent, brilliant and often inventive, full of high inspirations. You are courageous, honest, determined, original and creative. You are a leader, especially for a cause. Sometimes you do not care to finish what you start, and may leave details to others. You can do well in position of authority, and prospers in intellectual and professional fields. You are intuitive and might be interested in the arts, drama or science.
Dependable, very down-to-earth and well grounded, you are always looking for meaningful work, a career where you can take pride in your work and do the best job you are capable of. Your prime desire is to build protected and secure environment at home and at work. You can be very persuasive in achieving goals and gaining objectives. You can be very detailed and well-organized and possess great organizational skills. At times you may appear too stubborn and overly critical to others, but your practical approach to life and productivity makes you one of the most beneficent members of community.
✦ Jillian's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Jillian's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.