Giles

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Giles

Gender: Masculine
Language: English
Etymology:
Giles is the English form of Gilles, the French form of Aegidius (Egidius to Gidie to Gile to Gilles), a Latin name from Aigidios, a Greek name meaning “Young Goat” from “aigidion.”

History:
St. Giles was the patron saint of cripples and beggars, and the name was quite common during the Middle Ages. Often, it was given to both girls and boys (now it is entirely masculine). The name (as Gilles) as traditionally been very popular in France, as St. Giles supposedly moved from Greece to Provençe.

Pronunciation: jiles.

Alternates:
Danish: Gillis.
Dutch: Egidiu, Gillis.
French: Gilles.
German: Ägid, Agidius.
Greek: Aigidios.
Hawaiian: Kile.
Hungarian: Egyed.
Italian: Gil, Egidio.
Latin: Aegidius, Egidius.
Polish: Idzi, Edgidiusz.
Portuguese: Gil.
Spanish: Gil.

Famous Bearers:
Artists and Authors:
Gilles Binchois (1400-1460)
Flemish composer.
Gil Vicente (1436-1536)
Portuguese dramatist.
Gil de Siloé (?-1501)
Spanish sculptor.
Gillis van Coninxloo (1544-1607)
Flemish painter.
Giles Fletcher, the Elder (1548-1611)
English poet.
Giles Farnaby (1560-1640)
English composer.
Egidius Sadeler, II (Aegidius, Gillis Sadeler) (1570-1629)
Flemish artist.
Giles Fletcher, the Younger (1585-1623)
English poet.
Sir Giles Gilbert Scott (1880-1960)
British architect.
Giles Cooper (1918-1966)
British writer.

Educators, Scholars, and Social Workers:
Giles of Rome (Aegidius Romanus) (1243-1316)
Italian theologian and philosopher.
Gilles Li Muisis (1272-1352)
French chronicler.
Gil Álvarez Carillo de Albornoz (1310-1367)
Spanish jurist.
Gilg (Aegidius) Tschudi (1505-1572)
Swiss scholar.
Gilles Ménage (1613-1692)
French scholar.
Gilles Deleuze (1925-1995)
French philosopher.

Miscellaneous:
Gilles de Rais (1404-1440)
French celebrity famous for allegedly murdering children for satanic principles.
Gillis Graström (1893-1938)
Swedish figure skater.

Religious Figures:
Saint Giles (Aegidius) (?-ca. 724)
Greek hermit who traveled to France. Patron saint of lepers, beggars, and cripples
Saint Giles of Assisi (1885-1263)
A follower of St. Francis.

Scientists:
Gilles Personne de Roberval (1602-1675)
French mathematician.

Popularity:
Percentage from the 1990 U.S. Census:
less than 0.004 % named Giles

Popularity of Giles:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1910: 779th most popular.
1910-1920: 771st most popular.
1920-1930: 821st most popular.
1930-1940: N/A
1940-1950: 884th most popular.
1950-2000: N/A

Popularity of Gilles:
Popularity (for newborns):
In France...
1900-1910: N/A
1915: 164th most popular.
1920: 147th most popular.
1930: 83rd most popular.
1940: 52nd most popular.
1950: 30th most popular.
1960: 14th most popular.
1970: 26th most popular.
1980: 63rd most popular.
1990: 171st most popular.
1991: 186th most popular.
2000: N/A