Gilles

At a Glance

Meaning

Young goat (the sense of the Greek root behind Saint Giles's name)

Origin

French (from Latin Aegidius, ultimately Greek)

Gender

Primarily used for boys

Pronunciation

ZHEELListen

Gilles is a French name, a form of the Latin Aegidius that traces back to Greek, and it means "young goat." It's pronounced ZHEEL, with a soft "zh" sound like the middle of "measure." You may see it said that the name means "shield-bearer," but that explanation isn't well supported; the better-attested root is the Greek word for a young goat.

Meaning & Origin of Gilles

Meaning: Young goat (the sense of the Greek root behind Saint Giles's name).

Origin: French (from Latin Aegidius, ultimately Greek).

A common claim: "Young goat" (sometimes also given as "shield-bearer") Actually: "Shield-bearer" isn't a well-supported explanation for this name; the better-attested root is the Greek word for a young goat.

Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.

How to Pronounce Gilles

Popularity of Gilles

Gilles has always been rare in the U.S.: it peaked at #2072 in 1946 with 13 babies, and by 2001, the last year in the data, it had slipped to #9685 with just 6.

Names Like Gilles

These names have followed a similar path to Gilles in U.S. popularity over the years.

• Samuell
• Cira
• Vaden
• Wendel
• Ilsa
• Lennard

FAQ

What does the name Gilles mean?

Young goat (the sense of the Greek root behind Saint Giles’s name). (Source: Wiktionary)

How do you pronounce Gilles?

Gilles is pronounced ZHEEL (IPA: /ʒil/).

Is Gilles a popular name right now?

Gilles peaked at #2072 in 1946 and is ranked #9685 as of 2001. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1923–2001.)

Make Gilles Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Gilles, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.