Hilda is a name of Germanic origin, derived from the Old Norse name Hildr. This name is composed of two elements: "hildr," which means battle or combat, and "-laug," a suffix that refers to a lairge or large body of water. Therefore, the name Hilda can be interpreted as meaning "battle by the lake" or "war-like lady."
The name Hilda was popular among early medieval Germanic tribes and was used by several notable figures throughout history. One such figure is Saint Hilda of Whitby, who lived in the 7th century and was a abbess at the monastery of Whitby Abbey. She was known for her intelligence, wisdom, and holiness, and her influence extended beyond her monastery to the wider Anglo-Saxon world.
In literature, Hilda has been used as a character name in several works, including the novel "Hild" by Nicola Griffith, which tells the story of a young woman named Hild who grows up to become a powerful queen. The name has also appeared in various forms of media, such as the animated series "Adventure Time," where it is used as the name of one of the main characters.
Today, Hilda remains a unique and distinctive name that carries with it a sense of history and strength. While its popularity has varied over time, it continues to be chosen by parents who appreciate its meaning and heritage.
The name Hilda has a rich history in the United States, with its popularity fluctuating over time as reflected in these statistics of annual births from 1880 to 2023.
In the late 19th century, Hilda was not very common, with fewer than 150 births each year between 1880 and 1889. However, starting around 1890, its popularity began to rise steadily. By 1900, there were over 600 births per year, reaching a peak of over 2,000 births in both 1915 and 1916.
The first half of the 20th century saw Hilda's popularity remain relatively high, with over 1,000 births each year from 1904 to 1953. However, after this point, its usage began to decline significantly. By the late 1950s and early 1960s, there were fewer than 500 births per year.
This downward trend continued throughout most of the latter half of the century, with Hilda falling out of fashion in the United States. From the 1970s onwards, annual births numbered in the hundreds or even less than 100 each year. The lowest point was reached in 2011, with only 33 births recorded that year.
However, since 2015, there has been a slight resurgence in the popularity of Hilda. Although it is still far from its peak usage in the early 20th century, annual births have risen from a low of 40 in 2016 to 60 in 2022.
In total, over the period from 1880 to 2023, there were approximately 80,911 babies named Hilda born in the United States. This name has clearly played a significant role in American naming history, despite its fluctuating popularity over time.