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At a Glance: Name: Jill – Meaning: pet form of Gillian (from Juliana), tracing to the Roman family name Julius – Origin: Latin (via Old French/Middle English diminutive chain) – Gender: used for both boys and girls – Pronunciation: JIL
Jill is a pet form of Gillian, which traces back to Juliana and the Roman family name Julius. It's often said to mean 'youthful,' but that's just a popular gloss on Julius — the actual root meaning of that Roman name isn't settled, so this is one to take with a grain of salt if a firm meaning matters to you.
Meaning & Origin of Jill
Meaning: Pet form of Gillian (from Juliana), tracing to the Roman family name Julius.
Origin: Latin (via Old French/Middle English diminutive chain).
A common claim: Often glossed as meaning 'youthful,' following the popular (but disputed) gloss for Julia/Julius. Actually: 'Youthful' is a folk gloss for Julius; the actual root meaning of that Roman name is uncertain, so it isn't a settled fact.
Source: Wiktionary.
How to Pronounce Jill
Phonetic: JIL IPA: /dʒɪl/
Popularity of Jill
Jill peaked at #41 in 1977, when 6,238 babies were given the name; by 2024 it had fallen to #6246, with just 19 babies named Jill that year.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1906–2024.
Make Jill Name Art
Free printable nursery art for Jill, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.
Names With a Similar Story
Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.
FAQ
What does the name Jill mean?
Pet form of Gillian (from Juliana), tracing to the Roman family name Julius. (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Jill)
How do you pronounce Jill?
Jill is pronounced JIL (IPA: /dʒɪl/).
Is Jill a popular name right now?
Jill peaked at #41 in 1977 and is ranked #6246 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1906–2024.)
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