Message: "Gillian" - Behind the Name

[Opinions] Gillian

by Katheros

6/12/2008, 10:26 AM

I just rediscovered this name, and I'm starting to really like it. The only Gillian I know was a bully girl in fourth grade, so that kind of turned me off, but fourth grade was a long time ago ; ) To me Gillian sounds feminine without being, you know... froofy... and it's classic and just unusual enough. What do you think? Any combo ideas?

(I pronounce it with a soft 'G', like a 'J')

#Gillian

Replies

- MelvinSpelvin +1

6/13/2008, 9:43 AM

I love the name, but I would spell it with a "J". I have a lot of "J" names in my family, though, so maybe I'm just partial to that letter. :)

Combos? How about Gillian Rose, Gillian Elizabeth, or Gillian Aubrey? That's all I can thin of right now.

- Katheros

6/13/2008, 11:22 AM

I like Aubrey with it a lot! Thanks. I also just thought of Gillian Cate or Kate...

- Emma Catherine (Emma McHnery) +3

6/12/2008, 4:47 PM

nt.

- Emma Catherine (Emma McHnery)

6/14/2008, 11:46 AM

nt.

- Katheros

6/12/2008, 7:50 PM

who? n/t I'll google her...

- Hannah Ruth

6/12/2008, 5:28 PM

Is that a 'no' then?

- Hannah Ruth

6/12/2008, 3:28 PM

I like it..

But only with a 'G'. I dislike Jillian.

- Caroline (guest)

6/12/2008, 3:03 PM

I actually have started liking Gillian more recently too. I prefer it pronouced the way you like it, but I've also heard it with the hard G like Gillian Welch (whom I love!) pronounces her name.

Gillian Cecilia
Gillian Neve
Gillian Margaret
Gillian Mary
Gillian Laura
Gillian Maeve

- Gabrielle (delaney04)

6/12/2008, 2:51 PM

I love Gillian, though I prefer it as Jillian. Anyhoo, my favorite combo is Gillian Elise. A few more:

Gillian Erica
Gillian Simone
Gillian Victoria
Gillian Ava
Gillian Rachel

- Flute (meganmichele)

6/12/2008, 1:50 PM

Whenever I see Gillian I always think it should be pronounced with a hard G, so I much prefer the Jillian spelling (plus I just prefer the look of Jillian, from a purely aesthetic standpoint). I've known a couple very sweet Jillians over the years, and so I have a positive association with it. It's a nice name because it's not overly common, but at the same time everyone recognizes it. :) It's been growing on me a lot recently.

Here's some combos for you (sorry if there are any repeats!):

Gillian Ada
Gillian Anise
Gillian April
Gillian Bethany
Gillian Celia
Gillian Charlotte
Gillian Chloe
Gillian Clara
Gillian Colette
Gillian Daphne
Gillian Diana
Gillian Edith
Gillian Elanor
Gillian Etta
Gillian Felicity
Gillian Hazel
Gillian Ivy
Gillian Kara
Gillian Kestrel
Gillian Laura
Gillian Leah
Gillian Mara
Gillian Mary
Gillian Melody
Gillian Pearl
Gillian Ramona
Gillian Rosemary
Gillian Sadie
Gillian Sara
Gillian Sophie
Gillian Sylvie
Gillian Viola
Gillian Zora

- rem

6/12/2008, 1:22 PM

I love Jillian

don't care for the spelling Gillian.

I pronounce it JILL-ee-en.

I haven't found a great combo. I prefer the initials JEM, so I'm looking for an E name.

Jillian Emelia*
Jillian Elena
Jillian Eve

- Sohvi Astraea

6/12/2008, 12:25 PM

When I see Gillian spelled that way I think of Gillian Anderson :) I personally don't like the name Jillian/Gillian that much (just because of some bad associations), but I prefer it as Gillian.

I think some good combos would be Gillian and something that starts with a vowel and is relatively short. Gillian Amber or Gillian Iris for example.

- Megan (ClementineFox7)

6/12/2008, 11:45 AM

I love it esp with the G. My favorite combo for it is Gillian Fox.

Gillian Margot
Gillian Petra
Gillian Susanna
Gillian Isla
Gillian Ocean
Gillian Katherine

- Array (WeloveyouJesseLacey) +2

6/12/2008, 11:17 AM

I love Gillian, but only with a hard G sound, as in goat. :) Jillian has never appealed to me, whether you spell it with a G or a J.

I'm spelling the combo ideas I have for you with a J so that I don't start thinking of my own preferred pronunciation; please insert the G as necessary. ;)

Jillian Hope
Jillian Kira
Jillian Audrey
Jillian Isla
Jillian Maris
Jillian Tara
Jillian Marla
Jillian Claire
Jillian Iris
Jillian Pippa
Jillian Ivy
Jillian Opal
Jillian Sara
Jillian Joy
Jillian Cora
Jillian Coral
Jillian Rain
Jillian Hazel
Jillian Daisy
Jillian Carrie / Carey
Jillian Persis
Jillian Ida
Jillian Vera
Jillian Agnes
Jillian Sparrow

I think a homey little one or two-syllable name would be best with it. Very comfortable sounding to me.

Array

- Katheros +1

6/12/2008, 11:23 AM

I agree.. and I love Pippa, Agnes, Sparrow, Hazel and Rain (Raine)! We should compare name lists ; )

(Doesn't the hard G version make you think of fish gills, though?)

- Array (WeloveyouJesseLacey)

6/12/2008, 11:45 AM

I'm glad you like some of them! I must admit that I peeked at your PNL a bit, but it's a friendly one (I like your names), so I didn't feel too bad. ;)

Fish gills aren't a negative association for me (I love fishes, actually). So even though it doesn't (actually, it kind of sounds like a number to me--a million, a billion, a gillian, since I say GILL-yin rather than GILL-ee-in), it wouldn't bother me if it did. :)

Array

- diamond (guest)

6/12/2008, 10:40 AM

It kinda reminds me of Gilligan's Island. I love Lillian though. :) Planning to use Lillian as my DD's mn.
Gillian IS womanly, sweet and kind, though.
Nice name though, just a tad 1970's ish for my taste. But pretty, nevertheless.

- penguiny7

6/12/2008, 10:36 AM

I think Gillian is a really soft and pretty name. I prefer it spelled with a G than a J too. It gives me the same feel as names like Ava, Claire, Genevieve, and Imogen, and I think it goes well with names like those. Gillian Claire would be really pretty. Some others:

Gillian Abigail
Gillian Edith
Gillian Fiona
Gillian Iona
Gillian Isobel
Gillian Nora
Gillian Sarah
Gillian Violet

- Kitty (xKittyx)

6/12/2008, 10:35 AM

I think it's quite nice, its still a bit dated over here, like a "mum" name if you know what I mean lol. It's pretty though & the nn Gilly is cute.

Gillian Alexandra
Gillian Rebecca
Gillian Lucy
Gillian Alice
Gillian Rose
Gillian Grace

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