The name Hilja is of Finnish origin and means "peaceful." It is a female given name that has been used in Finland for generations. The name is believed to have originated from the Finnish word "hiljainen," which means quiet or peaceful. According to Finnish folklore, Hilja was also the name of one of the seven sisters who were the guardians of the earth and its inhabitants. The name Hilja has a gentle and calming quality, reflecting the qualities of peace and tranquility that it signifies. It is often spelled with an "i" instead of a "j," but both spellings are used in Finland.
Based on the provided statistics, the name Hilja experienced a fluctuating popularity over time in the United States during the early 20th century. The highest peak in its popularity was in 1917 with 12 births, indicating that this year was particularly favorable for the name Hilja among parents choosing names for their newborn daughters.
However, it is worth noting that even at its highest point, the number of births with the name Hilja remained relatively low compared to many other popular baby girl names during that era. This suggests that Hilja was a somewhat uncommon choice among parents at the time.
Over the course of these years (1894-1920), there were a total of 81 births registered with the name Hilja in the United States. This suggests that while it may not have been a very common name, it still held some appeal for parents during this period.
In summary, although Hilja did not achieve significant popularity during these years, its usage remained somewhat steady, fluctuating between 5 and 12 births per year over two decades in the United States.