Hilaire
Hilaire, the French form of Hilary, is a given name and surname derived from the Latin hilarius meaning happy or merry. Notable people with the name include:
- French
Meaning & Origin of Hilaire
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Hilaire, the French form of Hilary, is a given name and surname derived from the Latin hilarius meaning happy or merry. Notable people with the name include:
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)
- French
The Story of Hilaire
As a girl name
The earliest SSA record of Hilaire as a girl name dates back to 1975, when 5 babies received it. 1992 was its biggest year on record, with 9 newborns named Hilaire — #8,734 in the national rankings. The 1990s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 74% of all recorded Hilaires. Its most recent appearance in the national data came in 1992 (9 births); the name has since faded from the published rankings. In total, more than 19 Hilaires have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1970s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
American parents first put Hilaire on the record books as a boy name in 1918, with 8 registered babies. Its peak popularity came in 1918, when 8 Hilaires were born — ranking #3,096 that year. The 1920s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 55% of all recorded Hilaires. Its most recent appearance in the national data came in 1933 (5 births); the name has since faded from the published rankings. In total, more than 29 Hilaires have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1910s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Notable people named Hilaire
A small selection from Wikipedia. Tap "Read more" below to see the full list on Wikipedia.
- Ambroise-Hilaire Comeau (1859–1911), Canadian politician
- Hilaire Babassana , Congolese politician and economist
- Hilaire Belloc (1870–1953), Anglo-French writer
- Hilaire de Barenton (1864–1946), French friar, linguist and historian
- Hilaire du Berrier (1906–2002), American pilot, barnstormer, and spy
- Hilaire de Chardonnet (1839–1924), French engineer and inventor of artificial silk
- Hilaire Cholette (1856–1905), Canadian physician and politician
- Hilaire Couvreur (1924–1998), Belgian cyclist
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Names that sound like Hilaire
Phonetically similar names — useful when Hilaire is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
- Hilare
- Hillier
- Hillyer
- Hilyer
- Hellyer
- Helar
- Holier
- Hilter
- Hiller
- Hilar
- Hollower
- Hollier
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Hilaire
What does the name Hilaire mean?
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How popular is Hilaire in 2026?
When was Hilaire most popular?
Is Hilaire a unisex name?
What names go well with Hilaire?
About the name Hilaire
Hilaire is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1918 and has accumulated 29 births in the dataset. Hilaire's peak popularity came in 1918 when it ranked #3,096. Use the chart and map above to compare Hilaire's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1918 →
- Names of the 1910s →
- Names starting with "H" →
- Browse all boy names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.