Gill
Girl name · 12 babies recorded · 1974–2025
Gill: 12 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 4 births in 1978.
The name Gill has multiple origins, most commonly serving as a short form of Gillian, the feminine English form of Julian, which derives from the Roman family name *Julius*, meaning "youthful" or "downy-bearded." It also stands as a surname-turned-first-name rooted in the Gaelic *Mac Gille*, meaning "son of a servant" (of a saint), or the Norse *Gil*, meaning "ravine." Among its bearers are the celebrated Scottish folk singer **Gill Bowman**, known for her traditional ballads, and the formidable **Gill** (Guðrún) **Einarsson**, a 13th-century Icelandic chieftain. The name indirectly links to the many Scottish place names containing *Gill*, such as Gill's Bay in Caithness, all echoing the Norse term for a deep cleft. In modern Scotland, Gill remains a crisp, gender-neutral staple, occasionally spelled Gillian for clarity, but retaining its brisk, no-nonsense charm.
Girl 3 of 52 years
- Peak year
- 19784 babies
- Latest (1988)
- #5114 babies
- Total births
- 12since 1978
- 5-year trend
- ≈ stablevs prior 5y