Hilary

[Vintagejazz]

Hadn't heard this name in years, but in the past month I've heard of it for a new baby and also a mum on the bus talking to her little daughter who looked about 3.
Is it making a comeback?

It's the kind of name I could see being due a comeback. I would associate it with the 1940s and 1950s and I think those names are starting to become popular again after years of Lilys, Edies and Rubys.

I like it. There's something solid and reassuring about it. Reminds me of old fashioned boarding school stories.

Ah I do like this name very much, not sure I would name my child with it though. Very strong name indeed.

Yes, very boarding school story. 'Hilary's Jolly Summer Term at St Hilda's'.

I don't like it very much.

I quite like it. A Hilary would be good at games and have a best friend called Barbara and have toast and tea by the old nursery fire at half past four on winter afternoons.

I've heard of a few of those kind of names being used recently - Dorothea, Lorna and Jocelyn spring to mind.

I quite like it! It does remind me of Hillary Clinton, though.

Not for me (never liked H names, somewhat irrationally). I do like Verity though which is of the same ilk.

It's okay but I've never met a Hilary who liked her name.

Same with Barbara.

I know 4 Hilarys! 2 in our village, both in their 50s, 2 more friends of mine, both in their early 40s. Not heard it in any younger age groups though. So doesn't seem like an unusual name for me!

... and the next American president - at least I hope - Hilary Clinton. One smart and strong woman.

I do not like it at all. It's clunky and ugly in my opinion.

I don't like it, but I absolutely love the Italian version 'Ilaria'.

I love Hilary Clinton. I could see it coming back! To me it is of the same ilk as Harriet, Jill...

Let's hope not!

It's a bit clunky and not very euphonic. Also it's a boy's name too. And often misspelled Hillary. Or Hilliary.

I think it flows quite nicely. I don't think I'd use it myself but I think it's much nicer than some of the old lady names that have been so popular in recent years eg Elsie, Edith, Iris.

I love it and have been saving it for years, I hope it is not making a comeback. It has gone up slightly, there were 6 in the 2012 stats and only 3 in the 2011 stats if I recall rightly. I hope everybody hates it!

Except maybe the daughter you give the name to?

Why would you want everyone to hate your daughter's name?

I would much rather be called Hilary or Lorna than Elsie or Iris.

I actually really like 40s/50s type names and I think they'll start to creep up the popularity charts quite soon. I think pretty Victorian names and pre war 'downstairs maids' name have become so popular that they've reached saturation point and people will start looking for something a bit different.

I prefer the badgirl 1950's names like Jean and Betty to the ruddy cheeked and wholesome Hilary and Lorna.

I have to agree with badtime. 'Hilary' is awful, but 'Ilaria' is beautiful, and very popular in Italy across generations. It's my fantasy girls' name for the parallel universe where I actually want and have kids....

LOL @ yr post Vintagejazz. My DD has one of those old lady names!!

I don't think Hilary has ever been that popular actually, not really a name of the 40s and 50s either; one of the only good things about it is that you don't have to tell people which Hilary you are - cos they only know one (I have a mate called Sarah who always says "hello, it's Sarah Tomlinson" clearly from years of habit. On the phone I mean, not face to face! )

It does have a kind of 40s, 50s vibe about it. There seemed to be always Hilary in those boarding school stories set during or just after the war. (They were usually Head Girls or Prefects).