Baby Names US
girls' name ★ peaked 1915

Hildegard

Meaning Borrowed from German Hildegard in the 19th century Gender Girl Rank 2025 #7,627

Borrowed from German Hildegard in the 19th century; ultimately from Proto-West Germanic *Hildigardu.

Rank 2025
#7,627
among girls · ↓1,132 vs 2024
Babies in 2025
14
named Hildegard
How common
1 in 114,805
girls born in 2025
Peak year
1915
81 babies
All-time total
1,945
#4,788 all-time among girls
First recorded
1888
in Social Security records

Hildegard popularity over time

1,945 babies have been named Hildegard since 1888, 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
0.040.080.110.1518801900192019401960198020002020Peak 1906Girls

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 Girls Per year Change Best rank
1880s 6 1 – #1,197
1890s 130 13 +2067% #693
1900s 219 22 +68% #617
1910s 483 48 +121% #740
1920s 436 44 -10% #1,012
1930s 276 28 -37% #1,044
1940s 108 11 -61% #2,044
1950s 93 9 -14% #3,347
1960s 42 4 -55% #4,578
1970s 6 1 -86% #7,388
1980s – – – –
1990s – – – –
2000s – – – –
2010s 52 5 – #7,888
2020s (to 2025) 94 16 +201% #5,701

The story of Hildegard

Hildegard is rare for girls in the United States, ranked #7,627 in 2025 with 14 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.

Since 1888, 1,945 American babies have been named Hildegard. Its peak came in 1915, when 81 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 Hildegard stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Hildegard?

The median living Hildegard is about 68 years old; half are between 6 and 84. An estimated 400 people named Hildegard are alive in the United States today.

median 68 020406080100

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

Hildegard year by year

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

Year Girls Girls rank
2025 14 #7,627
2024 18 #6,495
2023 19 #6,261
2022 22 #5,701
2021 13 #8,198
2020 8 #11,479
2019 14 #7,888
2018 10 #10,088
2017 6 #14,796
2016 10 #10,376
2015 6 #15,210
2014 6 #15,316
2013 – –
2012 – –
2011 – –
2010 – –
2009 – –
2008 – –
2007 – –
2006 – –
2005 – –
2004 – –
2003 – –
2002 – –
2001 – –
2000 – –
1995 – –
1990 – –
1985 – –
1980 – –
1975 – –
1970 6 #7,388
1965 – –
1960 9 #4,578
1955 6 #5,450
1950 7 #4,479
1945 8 #3,496
1940 16 #2,057
1935 24 #1,526
1930 50 #1,044
1925 46 #1,143
1920 35 #1,327
1915 81 #740
1910 12 #1,377
1905 21 #810
1900 23 #768
1895 13 #910
1890 6 #1,270
1885 – –
1880 – –

Famous people named Hildegard

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

  1. 1 Hildegard of Bingen Hildegard of Bingen German nun and polymath (c.1098–1179) Medieval
  2. 2 Hildegard Knef Hildegard Knef German actress (1925–2002) Contemporary
  3. 3 Hildegard Behrens Hildegard Behrens German operatic soprano (1937–2009) Contemporary
  4. 4 Hildegard Falck Hildegard Falck Retired West German runner b. 1949 · Contemporary
  5. 5 Hildegard of the Vinzgau Hildegard of the Vinzgau Queen of the Franks from 771 to 783 758–783 · Medieval

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Hildegard?

The median living Hildegard is about 68 years old. Half of all living Hildegards are between 6 and 84 years old.

How many people named Hildegard are alive today?

An estimated 400 people named Hildegard are alive in the United States, based on 1,945 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Hildegard mean?

Borrowed from German Hildegard in the 19th century; ultimately from Proto-West Germanic *Hildigardu.

How popular is the name Hildegard in 2025?

Hildegard ranked #7,627 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 14 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Hildegard?

1,945 babies have been named Hildegard in the United States since 1888, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Hildegard most popular?

Hildegard peaked in 1915, when 81 newborns received the name.

Is Hildegard a boy or girl name?

Hildegard is overwhelmingly a girl's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Hildegard rising or falling?

Hildegard is on the rise, noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.

Who are famous people named Hildegard?

Well-known people named Hildegard include Hildegard of Bingen (religious figure), Hildegard Knef (actor), Hildegard Behrens (singer).

Names like Hildegard

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

Compare Hildegard with similar names → More names starting with H →