Pilar
A female given name from Spanish.
Every Pilar since 1896 — 6,258 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Pilar
Pilar is rare for girls in the United States, ranked #3,336 in 2025 with 47 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.
Since 1896, 6,258 American babies have been named Pilar — about 88% girls and 12% boys, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 2005, when 145 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 2000s.
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 Pilar stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Pilar year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 47 | #3,336 | — | — |
| 2024 | 45 | #3,496 | — | — |
| 2023 | 48 | #3,370 | — | — |
| 2022 | 47 | #3,402 | — | — |
| 2021 | 53 | #3,102 | — | — |
| 2020 | 48 | #3,266 | — | — |
| 2019 | 54 | #3,032 | — | — |
| 2018 | 42 | #3,661 | — | — |
| 2017 | 56 | #2,959 | — | — |
| 2016 | 43 | #3,645 | — | — |
| 2015 | 50 | #3,291 | — | — |
| 2014 | 63 | #2,773 | — | — |
| 2013 | 81 | #2,298 | — | — |
| 2012 | 80 | #2,354 | — | — |
| 2011 | 74 | #2,477 | — | — |
| 2010 | 84 | #2,291 | — | — |
| 2009 | 90 | #2,201 | — | — |
| 2008 | 125 | #1,771 | 6 | #12,193 |
| 2007 | 85 | #2,284 | — | — |
| 2006 | 99 | #2,014 | — | — |
| 2005 | 137 | #1,518 | 8 | #8,906 |
| 2004 | 128 | #1,553 | 6 | #10,981 |
| 2003 | 109 | #1,737 | — | — |
| 2002 | 110 | #1,680 | — | — |
| 2001 | 100 | #1,792 | 6 | #10,215 |
| 2000 | 116 | #1,547 | — | — |
| 1995 | 71 | #1,951 | 6 | #8,602 |
| 1990 | 121 | #1,333 | 9 | #5,704 |
| 1985 | 53 | #2,037 | 14 | #3,339 |
| 1980 | 63 | #1,757 | 7 | #5,360 |
| 1975 | 69 | #1,495 | 5 | #6,081 |
| 1970 | 78 | #1,348 | 9 | #3,459 |
| 1965 | 56 | #1,494 | 5 | #4,300 |
| 1960 | 49 | #1,613 | 8 | #3,268 |
| 1955 | 25 | #2,212 | 5 | #4,258 |
| 1950 | 24 | #1,991 | 9 | #2,724 |
| 1945 | 12 | #2,708 | 7 | #2,931 |
| 1940 | 8 | #3,444 | 5 | #3,823 |
| 1935 | 20 | #1,766 | 12 | #2,217 |
| 1930 | 20 | #1,860 | 6 | #3,901 |
| 1925 | 20 | #1,999 | 13 | #2,402 |
| 1920 | 23 | #1,798 | 18 | #1,945 |
| 1915 | 15 | #2,123 | 15 | #1,945 |
| 1910 | 9 | #1,738 | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
Famous people named Pilar
- Pilar Bardem Actor · b. 1939
- Pilar Lorengar Singer · 1928–1996
- Pilar Miró Film director · 1940–1997
- Pilar López de Ayala Actor · b. 1978
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Pilar mean?
A female given name from Spanish.
How popular is the name Pilar in 2025?
Pilar ranked #3,336 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 47 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Pilar?
6,258 babies have been named Pilar in the United States since 1896, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Pilar most popular?
Pilar peaked in 2005, when 145 newborns received the name.
Is Pilar a boy or girl name?
Pilar is used for both: about 88% of babies named Pilar have been girls and 12% boys.
Is the name Pilar rising or falling?
Pilar is declining — less popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Pilar?
Well-known people named Pilar include Pilar Bardem (actor), Pilar Lorengar (singer), Pilar Miró (film director).