Hilary, Hilarie or Hillary is a given and family name, derived from the Latin hilarius meaning "cheerful", from hilaris, "cheerful, merry", which comes from the Greek ἱλαρός (hilaros), "cheerful, merry", which in turn comes from ἵλαος (hilaos), "propitious, gracious". Ilaria is the popular Italian feminine form, while Ilario is the Italian masculine one. Other male forms are Hilarion, Ilarion, and Illarion. Notable men with the given name Hilary the Deacon ( century), churchman and theologian Pope Hilarius or Hilary (died 468), Catholic pope and saint Hilary of Arles, 5th-century bishop and saint Hilary of Chichester (c. 1110–1169), bishop of Chichester Hilary of Galeata, 6th century hermit Hilary of Poitiers or Saint Hilarius, 4th-century bishop and Church Father Hilary Benn (born 1953), British politician Hillary Bor (born 1989), Kenyan-American athlete Hillary Butler (born 1971), American football player Hilary Davan Wetton (born 1943), British conductor Hillary "Hilly" Hathaway (born 1969), American baseball player Hilary A. Herbert (1834–1919), American politician Hilary Jenkinson (1882–1961), British archivist and archival theorist Hilary R. W. Johnson (1837–1901), 11th President of Liberia Hilary Jones (disambiguation), multiple people Hilary Knight (born 1926), author, illustrator Hillary Makasa (born 1976), Zambian footballer Hilary Marquand (1901−1972), British politician Hillary Menard (born 1934), Canadian ice hockey player Hilary Minster (1944–1999), British actor Hilary Minc (1905−1974), Polish economist and politician Hilary Putnam (1926−2016), American philosopher Hilary Skarżyński (1925–1987), Polish ice hockey player Hillary Waugh (1920–2008), American novelist Hillary Yego (born 1992), Kenyan steeplechase runner Hilary Hinton Ziglar or Zig Ziglar (1926–2012), motivational speaker Notable women with the given name Hilary (musician) (1950–2007), American singer-songwriter Hilary Armstrong (born 1945), British politician Hilary Bell (disambiguation), multiple people Hilary Bok (born 1950), American academic and writer Hilary Bonner (born 1950), British writer Hillary Brooke (1914–1999), American actress Hilarie Burton (born 1982), American actress/producer Hillary Carlip (born 1956), American novelist Hillary Rodham Clinton (born 1947), American senator and Secretary of State 2009–2013 Hilary Cruz (born 1988), American actress, model and beauty queen Hilary Devey (1957–2022), English businesswoman and television personality Hilary du Pré (born 1942), British musician Hilary Duff (born 1987), American actress and singer Hilary Hahn (born 1979), American violinist Hillary Howard, American reporter Hilary Knight (born 1989), American ice hockey player Hilarie Lindsay (1922–2021), Australian toy manufacturer and writer Hillary Lindsey, country music songwriter Hilarie Mais (born 1952), British/Australian artist Hilary Mantel (1952–2022), British novelist Hilary D. Marston, American physician-scientist and global health policy advisor Hilaree