Meaning & origin
Where it comes from
Hildred is a variant of Hildegard. An origin associated with Hildegard is Germanic.
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1889. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. Hildred is a variant of Hildegard. The history of Hildegard gives this family its wider story. Hildegard’s historical associations include the second wife of Charlemagne and the mystical writer Hildegard of Bingen.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Hildred through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 2,825
- 421 boys · 2,404 girls
- Most popular year
- 1923
- 107 babies
- 2025
- 0
- Outside the ranked list
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- —
- Too few births to compare
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 15% boys.
By the numbers
The most recent published U.S. birth count for girls is 6 in 1965. Later missing counts do not mean the name went unused. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 639 as a first name in 2020; a sample rank of No. 63,327 among surnames in 1990.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Hildred’s family of names
Hildred has a related form in Hildegard.
The ring: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 1
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Similar names
If you love Hildred, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Hilma
“one who is protected”
>99% girls
Idell
1% boys · 99% girls
Hilda
“a battlemaiden”
>99% girls
Hildegarde
Hildegarde is a feminine given name from Germanic.
>99% girls
Hedwig
“suffering strife during war”
>99% girls
Hortense
“a gardener”
>99% girls
Inell
>99% girls
Arline
“an oath; a pledge”
>99% girls