Baby Names US
boys' name ★ peaked 1923

Gillis

Meaning Gillis is a masculine given name Gender Boy Rank 2025 Below top lists

Gillis is a masculine given name.

Rank 2025
–
among boys
Babies in 2025
<5
named Gillis
How common
–
boys born in 2025
Peak year
1923
20 babies
All-time total
712
#6,373 all-time among boys
First recorded
1900
in Social Security records

Gillis popularity over time

712 babies have been named Gillis since 1900, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure
Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras
0.010.020.030.0418801900192019401960198020002020Peak 1900Boys

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade Boys Per year Change Best rank
1880s – – – –
1890s – – – –
1900s 10 1 – #1,394
1910s 98 10 +880% #1,460
1920s 138 14 +41% #1,781
1930s 117 12 -15% #1,791
1940s 120 12 +3% #1,650
1950s 127 13 +6% #1,695
1960s 61 6 -52% #2,358
1970s 25 3 -59% #3,965
1980s 10 1 -60% #6,705
1990s – – – –
2000s 6 1 – #9,686
2010s – – – –
2020s (to 2025) – – – –

The story of Gillis

Gillis is not currently in use for newborns in the United States: fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.

Since 1900, 712 American babies have been named Gillis. Its peak came in 1923, when 20 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1920s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Gillis stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Gillis?

The median living Gillis is about 70 years old; half are between 62 and 78. An estimated 300 people named Gillis are alive in the United States today.

median 70 020406080100

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Gillis year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year Boys Boys rank
2025 – –
2024 – –
2023 – –
2022 – –
2021 – –
2020 – –
2019 – –
2018 – –
2017 – –
2016 – –
2015 – –
2014 – –
2013 – –
2012 – –
2011 – –
2010 – –
2009 – –
2008 – –
2007 – –
2006 – –
2005 – –
2004 – –
2003 – –
2002 – –
2001 6 #9,686
2000 – –
1995 – –
1990 – –
1985 5 #6,912
1980 – –
1975 – –
1970 – –
1965 7 #3,360
1960 8 #3,177
1955 15 #2,080
1950 14 #2,063
1945 17 #1,650
1940 9 #2,557
1935 9 #2,605
1930 13 #2,225
1925 12 #2,492
1920 15 #2,171
1915 18 #1,683
1910 – –
1905 – –
1900 5 #1,394
1895 – –
1890 – –
1885 – –
1880 – –

Famous people named Gillis

The most globally famous bearers of the name, ranked by fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

  1. 1 Gillis Grafström Gillis Grafström Swedish figure skater (1893-1938) 19th century
  2. 2 Gillis Bildt Gillis Bildt Prime Minister of Sweden from 1888 to 1889 1820–1894 · 19th century
  3. 3 Gillis van Coninxloo Gillis van Coninxloo Flemish painter 1544–1607 · 16th century

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Gillis, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Gillis?

The median living Gillis is about 70 years old. Half of all living Gilliss are between 62 and 78 years old.

How many people named Gillis are alive today?

An estimated 300 people named Gillis are alive in the United States, based on 712 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Gillis mean?

Gillis is a masculine given name.

How popular is the name Gillis in 2025?

Gillis did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.

How many people are named Gillis?

712 babies have been named Gillis in the United States since 1900, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Gillis most popular?

Gillis peaked in 1923, when 20 newborns received the name.

Is Gillis a boy or girl name?

Gillis is overwhelmingly a boy's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Gillis rising or falling?

Gillis has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Who are famous people named Gillis?

Well-known people named Gillis include Gillis Grafström (skater), Gillis Bildt (politician), Gillis van Coninxloo (painter).

Names like Gillis

Names that sound and feel close to Gillis: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Gillis with similar names → More names starting with G →