What’s Up With Hilary?
Just to clarify, it’s Hilary, not Hillary or —goodness, no—Hillary Clinton, so let’s not go there. I’m more of a Hilary Duff, anyways.
Please note that I’m keeping this blog post about my first name, Hilary, because diving into my middle name—shared with my great aunt, a nurse with a story worth its own novel, would take us on a tangent. Also, my married name, Tan, is super common in Singapore, but my maiden name? It’s practically extinct. I’m the last of my family to carry it, and let’s just say I’m not its biggest fan, but will make light of it with humor, of course.
My name, Hilary, feels like a whisper from the past, carrying a gentle, soft melody that I’ve always found grounding. Derived from the Latin word, Hilarius, meaning “cheerful” or “happy,” it’s a name rooted in joy, which resonates with my quirky, uplifting personality. I’m not just funny—I’m Hilary-ous! I often joke and say that if I could have any job in the world, I would be a comedian.
A Touch of History
Historically, Hilary was a unisex name, used for both men and women, but when I think of it as a male name, I think of the guy who climbed Mt. Everest—Sir Edmund Hillary, I believe. My name might be timeless, but it’s not very popular anymore, especially after Hillary Clinton’s time in the public eye. However, there’s something poetic about carrying a name spoken across centuries, even if it doesn’t hold much significance for me. Honestly, I would’ve been fine with a different name. Then there are people who, as if it’s a groundbreaking idea I’ve never considered, say, “Well, you could use your middle name since you don’t seem to like your first name that much!”
Gee, I never thought of that! Actually, I can’t, because my middle name is worse than my first name!
I often write blog posts about finding peace in the chaos of life, and Hilary feels like a quiet nod to that mission. Its cheerful essence reminds me to seek joy in small moments—whether it’s a quiet morning with my journal or a walk on my favorite trail. My parents chose it because they wanted a name that felt unique yet classic, something that would stand out without being overly trendy. My mom wanted a name that sounded musical, and she preferred a variation of Hillary, which she said she didn’t care for. I often get called nicknames like Hilz, Hilly, Hil, and others that aren’t even close to my name, like Hilla, Hailey, Hannah, and so on. I really don’t mind Hailey. In my opinion, Hailey or Hannah are much better names.
A Personal Connection
Growing up, I didn’t really like my name, Hilary. As a kid, I sometimes wished for something more common, like Jessica, Hailey, or Claire—names that were popular in the 1980s and 1990s. I wanted a common name because I longed to fit in and have a normal childhood. But my childhood was anything but normal. Is wanting a simple, vanilla life too much to ask? 🍦😔
Also, I got tired of correcting the spelling. Everyone, including teachers, would spell it H-I-L-L-A-R-Y. Ugh. Drop the extra L. Over time, I’ve grown to accept my name. I don’t love my name or its associations, but at least it’s distinctive, almost aristocratic. Hilary sounds like a name suited for the social elite. My name has taught me to embrace my differences and quirks. As my mom and Nana would say, my name sounds musical. My name is like a soft melody—unassuming but memorable. I also feel a lunar pull to my name, as if it aligns with the dreamy, introspective energy of Sereneluna (yes, it’s one word, not two!). Here I go again, correcting people on my blog’s spelling, just as I’m constantly correcting the spelling of my name.
Wanna know what’s not so funny? Having to pay fees to keep this blog alive. It costs money each year to run a blog, as most of you know, and it isn’t cheap. If you’d like to help keep this blog alive and see more posts like this, check out my Ko-fi donation link. My writing runs on caffeine! My suggested donation is $5 CAD (or $3.50 USD), but you can choose any amount. Alternatively, if you want to purchase a sticker from my Redbubble shop (@sereneluna), I earn about $1 per purchase, though that will change at the end of the month.
I’m curious to know if you’re participating in this daily prompt. After all, what’s in a name? Feel free to join the conversation by leaving a comment below ↓
Thanks for stopping by! ♥
I did know it Hilary’s a unisex name although more popular as a first name for women now but it was cool learning more about it!
My mom got me this printed sheet of paper with the meaning of my name on it when I was really little. She got them for my cousins with common spellings too, as gifts. What I found interesting about this sheet of paper, was that the lady running the gift shop could change the name spellings to make it a customized for the person receiving it. Idk what that lady does now, but I thought it was a genius idea back in 1990s. She was ahead of her time lol
It’s a pretty good business idea for the 1990’s and makes a nice gift too.
I don’t think my mom ever framed mine, so I’m not sure if I still have it. All of my stuff that my parents kept (they tossed a lot of stuff) is all packed away in boxes.
Oh I see, my parents are the opposite I literally have everything even though I’m telling them they need to throw some stuff out lol.
Your parents remind me of my In-laws lol 😂
😅😅
Growing up I really didn’t like my name. I wanted a more common name. It took me many years before I met a man with my name and now anyone I meet with that name is much younger than me. I have never met anyone the same age or older with my name. Like you, it can be spelled a bit differently. Also, my first and last name have been used as both first and last names. I don’t use my full first name except for official paperwork and usually go by a short version. My name is better than what my mom told me long ago as to the name my parents were considering. Newton Aloysius.
Names can feel like a big deal growing up, especially when they’re unique like yours! It’s cool that you’ve come to appreciate it over time, and I bet Newton Aloysius would’ve been such a badass name had your parents named you that. Want to know what’s funny? When people have very similar first and last names, such as Steven Stevenson, Johnny Johnston, or Charles Charleston LOL! 😝
Fig Newtons are tasty cookies, so I don’t hate the name “Newton,” but I don’t love it either. Isaac isn’t a bad name, like Sir Isaac Newton.
I love how you shared the history behind your name and what it means to you! I never used to like my name (Lucy) growing up but I think I’m kinda just getting used to it, its not what I would have chosen but its better than how my parents thought I was gonna be a boy and were planning on naming me Luke 🤣
I really like your name, Lucy! It’s a timeless classic. The first thing that surprisingly doesn’t come to mind is “I Love Lucy.” I’m sure you get this a lot. The first Lucy that comes to mind, for me, is Lucy, the youngest sibling from the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. 🫶💕
Omg My parents thought I was going to be a boy too! If I was a boy, my name would have been Christian, which I’m not a fan of at all. The other girl name they liked was Gillian with a G. Like why?? Jillian with a J makes more sense. They seemed to like the -Ill names for some reason and I can see why my mom preferred 1 L over 2 L’s for my name.
My cousin Craig has a son named Luke. Lucy and Luke are very similar spellings so it makes perfect sense that your parents like the name Luke as a boy’s name too! Thanks for sharing! 🙂✨
Thanks!! The Lion, the witch and the wardrobe is so magical ✨️ its so cool how you have a detailed insight into your parents naming process of you!
I asked my mom about it when I was little, and what other names she liked. I’m an only child and often wondered my hypothetical sibling names would have been.