Gill
Boy nameGill has been given to 1,274 babies in the U.S. since 1884. It peaked in 1956.
Meaning & origin /ˈd͡ʒɪl/
As an English surname, converged from variants of Giles (sometimes through Dutch), Julian, and William. * As a northern English surname, from Middle English gil (“ravine, glen”), from Old Norse gil. The Old Norse is also a source of the Norwegian surname. * As an Irish and Scottish Gaelic surname, variant of McGill. * Also as an Irish surname, variant of Gall. * As a Jewish/Israeli given name, as well as surname, from Hebrew גיל (“joy”). * As a German surname, variant of Gilger. * As a Sikh Punjabi surname originating in India, from ਗਿੱਲ (gill, “moisture”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Popularity over time births per year, 1880–2025
Total babies
1,274
Peak year
1956 (52 babies)
Rank in 2025
Below top 1000
First recorded
1884
10-year trend
New / returning
Gender split
4% girls / 96% boys
Spellings & variants
Names one letter away from Gill — alternate spellings parents actually use.
Names with a similar vibe
Same primary gender, peaked around the same years, and roughly as common as Gill.
Sibling name ideas for Gill
Same era and popularity as Gill, avoiding matching initials or rhymes.
FAQ
How popular is the name Gill?
Gill has been given to 1,274 babies in the U.S. since 1884. It ranked below the top 1000 in 2025.
When did the name Gill peak?
Gill peaked in 1956, when 52 babies were given the name.
Is Gill a girl or boy name?
Gill is primarily a boy name (96% of babies named Gill are boys).
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