How popular is the name Gillian?

In 2025, 5 girls born in England and Wales were named Gillian, ranking 4,201st. Its peak was 1996, with 33 births.

What are nicknames for Gillian?

Common nicknames for Gillian include Gill, Gilly.

Is Gillian a boy's or a girl's name?

Mostly a girl's name: 100% of the 16,127 US babies named Gillian since 1880 were girls.

When was Gillian most popular?

1999 in the United States, when 1,022 babies were named Gillian, its highest rank at 303rd.

How do you pronounce Gillian?

Gillian is /ˈd͡ʒɪliən/, 3 syllables.

What name is Gillian a form of?

Gillian is a form of Julian and Juliana.

Is Gillian also a surname?

Yes. Gillian is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.

The first name Gillian

A girl’s name from Latin.

Pronounced /ˈd͡ʒɪliən/ 3 syllables Female Also a surname

Meaning and origin

Latin origin

A female given name from Latin; Medieval variant of Julian and Juliana, revived and quite popular in Britain in the mid-twentieth century.

A form of Julian, Juliana.

From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Popularity

Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

In 2025, 5 girls were named Gillian, making it the 4,201st most popular girls’ name. It peaked in 1996, with 33 births (#703).

262

babies named Gillian, 1996–2025

#4,201

rank in 2025

1996

peak year

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

Popularity in the United States

Babies named Gillian at birth, 1880–2025

In 2025, 47 girls born in the United States were named Gillian, the 3,307th most popular girls’ name that year. It was used most in 1999, when 1,022 were.

16,127

babies named Gillian since 1880

#3,307

rank in 2025

1999

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.

Nicknames and spellings

Nicknames for Gillian

Gill
Gilly

Other spellings and forms

Famous people named Gillian

37 on Wikidata, most written-about first

Gillian Anderson
American actress (born 1968)
Gillian Flynn
American author and critic, born 1971
Gillian Jacobs
American film, theater and television actress, born 1982
Gillian Armstrong
Film director, born 1950
Gillian Welch
American musician, born 1967
Gillian Vigman
American actress, born 1972
Gillian Gilbert
English musician, keyboardist, guitarist and singer, born 1961
Gillian Rolton
Australian equestrian (1956-2017)
Gillian Rubinstein
British writer of fiction and plays, born 1942
Gillian Carleton
Canadian track cyclist, born 1989
Gillian Cowley
Field hockey player, born 1955
Gillian Lynne
British ballet dancer, actress, choreographer and director (1926-2018)

More Latin girls’ names

All 381 names of Latin origin

Questions

What is the origin of the name Gillian?: Gillian comes from Latin.
How popular is the name Gillian?: In 2025, 5 girls born in England and Wales were named Gillian, ranking 4,201st. Its peak was 1996, with 33 births.
What are nicknames for Gillian?: Common nicknames for Gillian include Gill, Gilly.
Is Gillian a boy's or a girl's name?: Mostly a girl's name: 100% of the 16,127 US babies named Gillian since 1880 were girls.
When was Gillian most popular?: 1999 in the United States, when 1,022 babies were named Gillian, its highest rank at 303rd.
How do you pronounce Gillian?: Gillian is /ˈd͡ʒɪliən/, 3 syllables.
What name is Gillian a form of?: Gillian is a form of Julian and Juliana.
What are other spellings of Gillian?: Jillian and Julian.
Is Gillian also a surname?: Yes. Gillian is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.