Gillian

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Gillian

Gender: Feminine
Language: English
Etymology:
Gillian is a form of Jillian, from Julian, an English form of Julia, a Latin name, the feminine form of Julius. Originally it might have meant “Descended from Jove (Jupiter),” “Youthful,” or “Soft Hair.”

History:
Julia (or Iulia) was a popular Roman name, born by many early saints. The Latin name Juliana was coined from it to mean “Like Julia” or “Of Julius.”

The name Juliana is found in the Netherlands in the Middle Ages, from which it crossed the channel to England, as Julian, in the late 12th century. In England, it sprouted many forms, including Julyan, Gillian (first written appearance, 1273), and Jillian. All forms remained very common for the next 300 years. All of these different spellings (although G-i-l-l-i-a-n was the most common) were considered the same name until standardized spelling came about in the 1600s. In fact (according to Withycombe’s The Oxford Dictionary of English Christian Names) the names Julian and Gillian were declared to be legally separate names.

Later, in the 1700s, the diminutive Gillot or Jill, became a slang term, first for a girl, then for a sweetheart, and finally for a flirt (leading to the term “to jilt”). Gillian and its sisters soon declined and then all but disappeared.

Gillian was revived in the mid-20th century, first (strongly) in Britain and later (weakly) in the United States. In the U.S., it may have benefited (at the very end of the century) by the popularity of actress Gillian Anderson.

Please see Julia for additional information.

Pronunciation: jill-ee-ann, jill-yan.

Diminutives: Gill, Gillie, Gilly, Gillot, Jill.

Alternates: Gilian, Jilian, Jillian.

Surnames:
English: Gill, Gilson, Gillett, Gillott.

Famous Bearers:
Artists and Authors:
Gillian Clarke (1937-)
Welsh poet.

Political Figures:
Gillian Shepard (1940-)
British politician.

Singers and Entertainers:
Gillian Knight (1934-)
British opera singer.
Gillian Armstrong (1952-)
Australian filmmaker.
Gillian Anderson (1968-)
American actress.

Popularity:
Percentage from the 1990 U.S. Census:
0.006 % named Gillian

Popularity of Gillian:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1880-1967: N/A
1968: 968th most popular.
1969: 937th most popular.
1970-1971: N/A
1972: 950th most popular.
1973: 902nd most popular.
1974-1976: N/A
1977: 883rd most popular.
1978: 844th most popular.
1979: 881st most popular.
1980: 886th most popular.
1981: 748th most popular.
1982: 692nd most popular.
1983: 726th most popular.
1984: 669th most popular.
1985: 739th most popular.
1986: 798th most popular.
1987: 693rd most popular.
1988: 684th most popular.
1989: 742nd most popular.
1990: 827th most popular.
1991: 942nd most popular.
1992: 983rd most popular.
1993-1994: N/A
1995: 860th most popular.
1996: 605th most popular.
1997: 403rd most popular.
1998: 329th most popular.
1999: 301st most popular. - Peak!
2000: 321st most popular.
2001: 347th most popular.
2002: 387th most popular.
2003: 466th most popular.
2004: 549th most popular.

In Britain...
ca. 1550: 35th most popular.

1950: 20th most popular.
1965: 35th most popular.

Selected Sources:
The Wordsworth Dictionary of First Names, Mcleod and Friedman, 1995
A Dictionary of First Names, Hanks and Hodges, 1990
The Oxford Dictionary of English Christian Names, Withycombe, 1977, 3rd ed.
The Penguin Dictionary of First Names, Pickering, 1999

The Academy of St. Gabriel (www.s-gabriel.org) - For information on medieval names.

The Guinness Book of Names, Dunkling, 1983, for British stats from 1700-1981
The Social Security Administration Actuarial Note 139 (www.ssa.gov) - For popularity stats 1880-Present
The 1880 U.S. Census- For popularity stats 1850-1880, and other information (it is available on-line at www.familysearch.org)