Hildegard
Borrowed from German Hildegard in the 19th century; ultimately from Proto-West Germanic *Hildigardu.
Every Hildegard since 1888 — 1,945 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
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.
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
- Hildegard of Bingen Religious figure · 1098–1179
- Hildegard of the Vinzgau Companion · 758–783
- Hildegard Knef Actor · 1925–2002
- Hildegard Behrens Singer · 1937–2009
- Hildegard Falck Athlete · b. 1949
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
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 of the Vinzgau (companion), Hildegard Knef (actor).