Hilaria is a female given name of Latin origin. It is derived from the Latin word "hilaris," which means cheerful or happy. The name Hilaria is associated with joy and mirth, and it was often given to girls born around the time of festivals and celebrations in ancient Rome.
The name Hilaria has been used throughout history by several notable figures. One such figure is Saint Hilaria, a Christian martyr who was executed during the reign of the Roman Emperor Diocletian in the early 4th century. She is remembered for her unwavering faith and courage in the face of persecution.
In literature, Hilaria appears as a character in several works. In Thomas Middleton's play "A Trick to Catch the Old One" (1605), she is the wealthy widow who is the target of a marriage plot. In Charlotte Brontë's novel "Jane Eyre" (1847), Hilaria is the name given to a character who appears briefly towards the end of the story.
Despite its historical and literary associations, Hilaria remains relatively uncommon as a given name today. However, it has been used by several notable individuals in recent years, including Spanish actress Hilaria Thomas, who is married to American actor Alec Baldwin.
Based on the provided statistics, we can observe trends and patterns regarding the given name Hilaria over time in the United States.
The earliest recorded birth with the name Hilaria was in 1887, with a total of 5 births that year. This number remained relatively low until the early 20th century when there was a notable increase. Between 1913 and 1926, the number of births with the name Hilaria ranged from 15 to 26 annually, indicating a period of popularity.
However, this trend did not continue. After peaking in 1926 with 24 births, there was a gradual decline throughout the 1930s and 1940s, with fewer than 15 births per year. This pattern persisted for several decades, suggesting that Hilaria was no longer a popular choice for parents.
The name experienced another brief period of popularity in the late 1970s to early 1980s, with annual births ranging from 7 to 11 between 1977 and 1982. However, this resurgence was short-lived, as the number of births with the name Hilaria declined once again throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Over the past three decades, the name Hilaria has been given to fewer than 10 babies per year in the United States. The most recent data shows that there were 5 births with this name in both 2013 and 2018, and 8 births each in 2020 and 2022.
In conclusion, while Hilaria has not been a particularly popular name throughout history, it has experienced several periods of popularity and decline over time. Overall, there have been a total of 970 births with the name Hilaria recorded in the United States since 1887.