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Name Lineage

    The first name Gilles

    A boy’s name from French.

    1 syllable Male Also a surname

    Meaning and origin

    French origin

    A male given name from French.

    From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

    Popularity

    Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

    Gilles last appeared in the official list in 2004, given to 3 boys. It peaked in 1996, with 3 births (#2,863).

    0510 1996200020052010201520202025
    9
    babies named Gilles, 1996–2025
    #3,651
    rank in 2004
    1996
    peak year

    Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Gilles with other names.

    Popularity in the United States

    Babies named Gilles at birth, 1880–2025

    In 2001, 6 boys born in the United States were named Gilles, the 9,685th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 1928, when 13 were.

    01020 188018851890189519001905191019151920192519301935194019451950195519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025
    359
    babies named Gilles since 1880
    #9,685
    rank in 2001
    1928
    peak year

    US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.

    Famous people named Gilles

    98 on Wikidata, most written-about first

    • Gilles Deleuze
      French philosopher (1925–1995)
    • Gilles Villeneuve
      Canadian racing driver (1950–1982)
    • Gilles Simon
      French tennis player, born 1984
    • Gilles Binchois
      Franco-Flemish Renaissance composer (c. 1400–1460)
    • Gilles de Roberval
      French mathematician (*1602 – †1675)
    • Gilles Leroy
      French writer, born 1958
    • Georges Gilles de la Tourette
      French physician (1857-1904)
    • Gilles Lellouche
      French actor, film director and screenwriter, born 1972
    • Gilles Brassard
      Canadian computer scientist, born 1955
    • Gilles Kepel
      French political scientist and Arabist (born 1955)
    • Gilles Grangier
      Film director, screenwriter (1911–1996)
    • Gilles Duceppe
      Canadian politician, born 1947

    More French boys’ names

    All 210 names of French origin

    Questions

    What is the origin of the name Gilles?
    Gilles comes from French.
    How popular is the name Gilles?
    In 2004, 3 boys born in England and Wales were named Gilles, ranking 3,651st. Its peak was 1996, with 3 births.
    Is Gilles a boy's or a girl's name?
    Mostly a boy's name: 100% of the 359 US babies named Gilles since 1880 were boys.
    When was Gilles most popular?
    1928 in the United States, when 13 babies were named Gilles, its highest rank at 2,316th.
    Is Gilles also a surname?
    Yes. Gilles is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.