Boy · #3,342 in 2026

Quill

A quill is a writing tool made from a moulted flight feather of a large bird. Quills were used for writing with ink before the invention of the dip pen/steel-nibbed pen, the fountain pen, and, eventually, the ballpoint pen.

Current Rank
#3,342
Peak Rank
#2,212 (2019)
Total Babies
457
5-Yr Trend
-9%
2017
First Year
2023
Last Year
2019
Peak Year
#13792
Peak Rank
21
Total Count
4
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Quill

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

A quill is a writing tool made from a moulted flight feather of a large bird. Quills were used for writing with ink before the invention of the dip pen/steel-nibbed pen, the fountain pen, and, eventually, the ballpoint pen.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

Origin & history
Sharpening a quill The quill pen evolved from the reed pen , of Egyptian origin. Quills were the primary writing instrument in the barbarian kingdoms from the 6th to the 19th century. The best quills were usually made from goose, swan, and later turkey feathers. Quills went into decline after the invention of the steel pen , mass production beginning in Great Britain as early as 1822 by John Mitchell of Birmingham . In the Eastern Mediterranean and much of the Islamic world, quills were not used as writing implements. Only reed pens were used as writing implements. La Lettera by Théodore Jacqu

The Story of Quill

Quill first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 2013, with 6 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2019, when 63 Quills were born — ranking #2,212 that year. As of 2026, Quill ranks #3,342 for baby boys with 36 births, gradually falling (-9%). In total, more than 457 Quills have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 2010s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

ME
WA
MT
ND
MN
WI
MI
NY
VT
NH
MA
OR
ID
SD
IA
IL
IN
OH
PA
NJ
CT
RI
CA
NV
WY
NE
MO
KY
WV
VA
MD
DE
DC
UT
CO
KS
AR
TN
NC
SC
AK
AZ
NM
OK
LA
MS
AL
GA
HI
TX
FL
Top 10
11-50
51-100
101-500
500+
No data

Names that sound like Quill

Phonetically similar names — useful when Quill is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

  • Quil
  • Quille
  • Quell
  • Quel
  • Quelle
  • Kwell
  • Kwel
  • Quail
  • Qual
  • Quale
  • Quoll
  • Quayle

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Quill

What does the name Quill mean?
A quill is a writing tool made from a moulted flight feather of a large bird. Quills were used for writing with ink before the invention of the dip pen/steel-nibbed pen, the fountain pen, and, eventually, the ballpoint pen.
How popular is Quill in 2026?
In 2026, Quill ranks #3,342 among boys' names in the U.S., with 36 babies given the name that year.
When was Quill most popular?
Quill reached its peak popularity in 2019, ranking #2,212 that year with 63 babies given the name.
In which U.S. states is Quill most popular?
Quill has historically been most popular in Utah, Missouri, Arizona. Rankings vary year to year, but these states show the strongest concentration of births named Quill.
Is Quill a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Quill is primarily a boy's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a girl's name.
What names go well with Quill?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Quill include Taiden, Nivaan, Rody. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

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About the name Quill

Quill is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 2013 and has accumulated 457 births in the dataset. Quill's peak popularity came in 2019 when it ranked #2,212. Use the chart and map above to compare Quill's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

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.