Hilary, Hilarie or Hillary is a given and family name, derived from the

Latin Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power of the ...

''hilarius'' meaning "cheerful", from ''hilaris'', "cheerful, merry", which comes from the

Greek Greek may refer to: Greece Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe: *Greeks, an ethnic group. *Greek language, a branch of the Indo-European language family. **Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor ...

ἱλαρός (''hilaros''), "cheerful, merry", which in turn comes from ἵλαος (''hilaos''), "propitious, gracious".ἵλαος
Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, ''A Greek-English Lexicon'', on Perseus Ilaria is the popular Italian feminine form, while Ilario is the Italian masculine one. Other male forms are

Hilarion Hilarion the Great (291–371) was an anchorite who spent most of his life in the desert according to the example of Anthony the Great (c. 251–356). While St Anthony is considered to have established Christian monasticism in the Egyptian de ...

, Ilarion, and Illarion.

Notable men with the given name

Hilary the Deacon __NOTOC__ Hilary the Deacon ( la, Hilarius Diaconus; century) was a Sardinian deacon of the Roman church. In 355, along with Lucifer of Cagliari, Eusebius of Vercelli, and Pancratius, he was directed by Pope Liberius to plead for Athanasian ortho ...

( century), churchman and theologian *

Pope Hilarius Pope Hilarius (or Hilary) was the bishop of Rome from 19 November 461 to his death on 29 February 468. In 449, Hilarius served as a legate for Pope Leo I at the Second Council of Ephesus. His opposition to the condemnation of Flavian of Constan ...

or Hilary (died 468), Catholic pope and saint * Hilary of Arles, 5th-century bishop and saint * Hilary of Chichester (c. 1110–1169), bishop of Chichester * Hilary of Galeata, 6th century hermit *

Hilary of Poitiers Hilary of Poitiers ( la, Hilarius Pictaviensis; ) was Bishop of Poitiers and a Doctor of the Church. He was sometimes referred to as the "Hammer of the Arians" () and the "Athanasius of the West". His name comes from the Latin word for happy or ...

or Saint Hilarius, 4th-century bishop and Church Father *

Hilary Benn Hilary James Wedgwood Benn (born 26 November 1953) is a British Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Leeds Central since a by-election in 1999. He served in the Cabinet from 2003 to 2010, under both Tony Bl ...

(born 1953), British politician * Hillary Bor (born 1989), Kenyan-American athlete * Hillary Butler (born 1971), American football player * Hilary Davan Wetton (born 1943), British conductor * Hillary "Hilly" Hathaway (born 1969), American baseball player * Hilary A. Herbert (1834–1919), American politician *

Hilary Jenkinson Sir Charles Hilary Jenkinson (1 November 1882 – 5 March 1961)Johnson and Brodie 2008. was a British archivist and archival theorist, regarded as the figure most responsible for bringing continental European concepts of archival theory to the ...

(1882–1961), British archivist and archival theorist * Hilary R. W. Johnson (1837–1901), 11th President of Liberia * Hilary Jones (disambiguation), multiple people * Hilary Knight (born 1926), author, illustrator * Hillary Makasa (born 1976), Zambian footballer *

Hilary Marquand Hilary Adair Marquand, (24 December 1901 – 6 November 1972) was a British economist and Labour Party politician. Life and career He was born in Cardiff, the son of Alfred Marquand of Saint Peter Port, Guernsey, a clerk in a coal exporting ...

(1901−1972), British politician *

Hillary Menard Hillary Gilbert "Minnie" Menard (born January 15, 1934) is a Canadian retired professional ice hockey left winger who played in one National Hockey League game for the Chicago Black Hawks during the 1953–54 season. The rest of his career, whi ...

(born 1934), Canadian ice hockey player *

Hilary Minster Roger Michael Hilary Minster (21 March 1944 – 24 November 1999) was an English character actor. Life and career Born in Surrey, England, he is best known for playing General Erich Von Klinkerhoffen in the sitcom Allo 'Allo!'' between 1984 ...

(1944–1999), British actor *

Hilary Minc Hilary Minc (24 August 1905, Kazimierz Dolny – 26 November 1974, Warsaw) was a Polish economist and communist politician prominent in Stalinist Poland. Minc was born into a middle class Jewish family; his parents were Oskar Minc and Stefa ...

(1905−1974), Polish economist and politician * Hilary Putnam (1926−2016), American philosopher * Hilary Skarżyński (1925–1987), Polish ice hockey player * Hillary Waugh (1920–2008), American novelist *

Hillary Yego Hillary Kipsang Yego (born 2 April 1992) is a Kenyan long-distance runner who competes in the steeplechase (athletics), steeplechase. He has a personal best of 8:03.57 minutes for the event. He was the gold medallist at the 2009 World Youth Champi ...

(born 1992), Kenyan steeplechase runner * Hilary Hinton Ziglar or

Zig Ziglar Hilary Hinton Ziglar (November 6, 1926 – November 28, 2012) was an American author, salesman, and motivational speaker. Biography Early life and education Zig Ziglar was born prematurely in Coffee County, Alabama, to John Silas Ziglar ...

(1926–2012), motivational speaker

Notable women with the given name

* Hilary (musician) (1950–2007), American singer-songwriter * Hilary Armstrong (born 1945), British politician * Hilary Bell (disambiguation), multiple people * Hilary Bok (born 1950), American academic and writer * Hilary Bonner (born 1950), British writer *

Hillary Brooke Hillary Brooke (born Beatrice Sofia Mathilda Peterson; September 8, 1914 – May 25, 1999) was an American film actress. Career A 5′6″ blonde from the Astoria neighborhood of New York City's borough of Queens, Brooke, who was of Swedish an ...

(1914–1999), American actress *

Hilarie Burton Hilarie Ros Burton (born July 1, 1982) is an American actress, businesswoman, author and producer. A former host of MTV's ''Total Request Live'', she portrayed Peyton Sawyer on The WB/ CW drama '' One Tree Hill'' for six seasons (2003–2009). Po ...

(born 1982), American actress/producer * Hillary Carlip (born 1956), American novelist * Hillary Rodham Clinton (born 1947), American senator and Secretary of State 2009–2013 * Hilary Cruz (born 1988), American actress, model and beauty queen * Hilary Devey (1957–2022), English businesswoman and television personality * Hilary du Pré (born 1942), British musician *

Hilary Duff Hilary Erhard Duff (born September 28, 1987) is an American actress and singer. She is the recipient of various accolades, including seven Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards, four Teen Choice Awards and two Young Artist Awards. She began her acti ...

(born 1987), American actress and singer *

Hilary Hahn Hilary Hahn (born November 27, 1979) is an American violinist. She has performed throughout the world as a soloist with leading orchestras and conductors and as a recitalist. She is an avid supporter of contemporary classical music, and several ...

(born 1979), American violinist * Hillary Howard, American reporter * Hilary Knight (born 1989), American ice hockey player * Hilarie Lindsay (1922–2021), Australian toy manufacturer and writer *

Hillary Lindsey Hillary Lee Lindsey is an American singer-songwriter. She has written songs with or for a number of artists including Michelle Branch, Faith Hill, Martina McBride, Shakira, Lady A, Gary Allan, Sara Evans, Carrie Underwood, Kellie Pickler, Bo ...

, country music songwriter * Hilarie Mais (born 1952), British/Australian artist *

Hilary Mantel Dame Hilary Mary Mantel ( ; born Thompson; 6 July 1952 – 22 September 2022) was a British writer whose work includes historical fiction, personal memoirs and short stories. Her first published novel, '' Every Day Is Mother's Day'', was relea ...

(1952–2022), British novelist * Hilary D. Marston, American physician-scientist and global health policy advisor *

Hilaree Nelson Hilaree Nelson (December 13, 1972 – September 26, 2022) was an American ski mountaineer. She became the first woman to summit two 8000-meter peaks (Everest and Lhotse) in one 24-hour push on May 25, 2012. On September 30, 2018, Nelson and par ...

(1972–2022), American ski mountaineer * Hilary Ockendon, British mathematician * Hilary Pecis (born 1979), American artist * Hilary B. Price (born 1969), creator of the comic strip ''Rhymes with Orange'' * Hillary Raphael (born 1976), American novelist *

Hilary Rhoda Hilary Hollis Rhoda (born April 6, 1987) is an American model. She is perhaps best known for her work with the brand Estée Lauder and her 2009, 2010 and 2011 appearances in the ''Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue''. Early life Rhoda was born ...

(born 1987), American model *

Hillary Scott Hillary Dawn Scott-Tyrrell (born April 1, 1986) is an American singer and songwriter. She is the co-lead singer of Lady A, previously known as Lady Antebellum, a country music group that was formed in 2006, and is signed to Big Machine Records ...

(born 1986), American singer-songwriter *

, (born 1983) American pornographic actress *

Hilarie Sidney Hilarie Sidney is an American musician best known as the longtime drummer for The Apples in Stereo. She was previously married to Robert Schneider, the band's frontman and Elephant 6 co-founder. Their divorce was announced in 2004. She was ha ...

, American musician * Hillary B. Smith (born 1957), American actress *

Hilary Swank Hilary Ann Swank (born July 30, 1974) is an American actress and film producer. She first became known in 1992 for her role on the television series '' Camp Wilder'' and made her film debut with a minor role in ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' (1992 ...

(born 1974), American actress * Hilary Swarts, American wildlife biologist *

Hillary Tuck Hillary Tuck is an American actress. She had roles in the NBC Saturday Morning sitcom '' Hang Time'' (1995–1996) and Disney's '' Honey, I Shrunk the Kids: The TV Show''. She has also guest starred in such television series as ''Roseanne'', '' ...

(born 1978), American actress * Hilary Van Dyke (born 1970), American actress and singer * Hillary Wolf (born 1977), American child actress

People with this family name

* Darius Hillary (born 1993), American football player *

Edmund Hillary Sir Edmund Percival Hillary (20 July 1919 – 11 January 2008) was a New Zealand mountaineer, explorer, and philanthropist. On 29 May 1953, Hillary and Sherpa mountaineer Tenzing Norgay became the first climbers confirmed to have reache ...

(1919–2008), New Zealand mountaineer * Jennifer Hilary (1942–2008), British actress * Lynn Hilary (born 1982), Irish singer and guitarist *

Patrick Hillery Patrick John Hillery ( ga, Pádraig J. Ó hIrghile; 2 May 1923 – 12 April 2008) was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who served as the sixth president of Ireland from December 1976 to December 1990. He also served as vice-president of the Eur ...

(1923–2008),

President of Ireland The president of Ireland ( ga, Uachtarán na hÉireann) is the head of state of Ireland and the supreme commander of the Irish Defence Forces. The president holds office for seven years, and can be elected for a maximum of two terms.Constitu ...

* Peter Hillary (born 1954), Sir Edmund's son, New Zealand adventurer *

Richard Hillary Flight Lieutenant Richard Hope Hillary (20 April 1919 – 8 January 1943) was an Anglo-Australian Royal Air Force fighter pilot during the Second World War. He wrote the book '' The Last Enemy'' about his experiences during the Battle of Brit ...

(1919−1943), Australian/British fighter pilot and author *

William Hillary Sir William Hillary, 1st Baronet (4 January 1771 – 5 January 1847) was a British militia officer, author and philanthropist, best known as the founder, in 1824, of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.. Life Hillary's background was ...

(1771–1847), Founder of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution

Fictional characters

* Hillary, a recurring character in the TV series ''

Kyle XY ''Kyle XY'' is an American science fiction television series produced by ABC Family. The central character is a teenage boy (Matt Dallas) who awakens naked in a forest outside Seattle, Washington, with no more knowledge or abilities than a newbo ...

'' * Hilary Banks, in the TV series ''

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air ''The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air'' is an American television sitcom created by Andy and Susan Borowitz for NBC. It aired from September 10, 1990, to May 20, 1996. The series stars Will Smith as a fictionalized version of himself, a street-smart ...

'' * Hilary Becker, a captain in the TV series '' Primeval'' * Hilary Briss, part of the comedy quartet

The League of Gentlemen ''The League of Gentlemen'' is a surreal British comedy horror sitcom that premiered on BBC Two in 1999. The programme is set in Royston Vasey, a fictional town in northern England, originally based on Alston, Cumbria, and follows the live ...

*Hilary Burde, the first-person narrator of Iris Murdoch's '' A Word Child'' *

Hilary Curtis Hilary Curtis is a fictional character from the original CBS daytime soap opera ''The Young and the Restless'' portrayed by Mishael Morgan. The character was introduced by executive producer Jill Farren Phelps in 2013 under head writers Josh Griff ...

in the soap opera ''

The Young and the Restless ''The Young and the Restless'' (often abbreviated as ''Y&R'') is an American television soap opera created by William J. Bell and Lee Phillip Bell for CBS. The show is set in fictional Genoa City (not the real-life similarly-named Genoa City, ...

'' * Hillary

Norm Peterson Hilary Norman Peterson is a regular fictional character on the American television show ''Cheers''. The character was portrayed by actor George Wendt and is named Hilary after his paternal grandfather. Norm appeared in all 275 episodes of '' ...

, in the TV series '' Cheers'' *

Hilary Tachibana This list includes characters from the original Beyblade series. Main characters ; : :The main protagonist of ''Beyblade''. Master of sacred bit-beast Dragoon. ; : :A cold-hearted and ruthless Russian beyblader. Tyson's fated rival, and through m ...

, in the ''

Beyblade is a line of spinning-top toys originally developed by Takara, first released in Japan in July 1999, along with its debut series. Following Takara's merger with Tomy in 2006, Beyblades are now developed by Takara Tomy. Various toy companies ...

'' anime series * Hillary Whitney, protagonist in the 1988 movie ''

Beaches A beach is a landform alongside a body of water which consists of loose particles. The particles composing a beach are typically made from rock, such as sand, gravel, shingle, pebbles, etc., or biological sources, such as mollusc shel ...

'', played by Barbara Hershey

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hilary (Name) Surnames English-language unisex given names English-language feminine given names English-language masculine given names English unisex given names English feminine given names English masculine given names Unisex given names Feminine given names Masculine given names

Notable men with the given name

Notable women with the given name

People with this family name

Fictional characters

See also

References