Gilman: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

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	6	1	–	#862
1890s	–	–	–	–
1900s	12	1	–	#1,193
1910s	188	19	+1467%	#1,201
1920s	206	21	+10%	#1,481
1930s	182	18	-12%	#1,338
1940s	183	18	+1%	#1,379
1950s	92	9	-50%	#1,859
1960s	55	6	-40%	#2,363
1970s	–	–	–	–
1980s	5	1	–	#6,603
1990s	6	1	+20%	#7,984
2000s	–	–	–	–
2010s	–	–	–	–
2020s (to 2025)	–	–	–	–

Decade

Boys

Per year

Change

Best rank

1880s

–

#862

1890s

–

1900s

–

#1,193

1910s

188

+1467%

#1,201

1920s

206

+10%

#1,481

1930s

182

-12%

#1,338

1940s

183

+1%

#1,379

1950s

-50%

#1,859

1960s

-40%

#2,363

1970s

–

1980s

–

#6,603

1990s

+20%

#7,984

2000s

–

2010s

–

2020s (to 2025)

–

The story of Gilman

Gilman 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 1887, 935 American babies have been named Gilman. Its peak came in 1918, when 34 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1910s.

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 Gilman stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Gilman?

The median living Gilman is about 76 years old; half are between 68 and 82. An estimated 200 people named Gilman are alive in the United States today.

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

Gilman 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	–	–
2000	–	–
1995	–	–
1990	–	–
1985	–	–
1980	5	#6,603
1975	–	–
1970	–	–
1965	6	#3,673
1960	11	#2,593
1955	11	#2,480
1950	9	#2,650
1945	17	#1,651
1940	16	#1,756
1935	18	#1,679
1930	17	#1,851
1925	20	#1,761
1920	19	#1,842
1915	21	#1,526
1910	5	#1,685
1905	–	–
1900	–	–
1895	–	–
1890	–	–
1885	–	–
1880	–	–

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Gilman?

The median living Gilman is about 76 years old. Half of all living Gilmans are between 68 and 82 years old.

How many people named Gilman are alive today?

An estimated 200 people named Gilman are alive in the United States, based on 935 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Gilman mean?

Gilman is both a surname and a given name.

How popular is the name Gilman in 2025?

Gilman 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 Gilman?

935 babies have been named Gilman in the United States since 1887, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Gilman most popular?

Gilman peaked in 1918, when 34 newborns received the name.

Is Gilman a boy or girl name?

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

Is the name Gilman rising or falling?

Gilman has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Gilman

Gilman popularity over time

The story of Gilman

How old are people named Gilman?

Gilman year by year

Frequently asked questions

Names like Gilman