Gil

young goat, or aegis/protection (Greek via Spanish)

Gil is a spanish / english boy name in the Philippines. PSA rank #260 (28,649 records), 1 syllable.

Spanish / English Spanish colonial
PSA rank
#260
Count
28,649
Syllables
1
Origin
Spanish / English
Historical layer
Spanish colonial
Sound
Neutral

Origin and meaning

young goat, or aegis/protection (Greek via Spanish)

Gil is the Spanish and Portuguese form of Giles, tracing back to the Late Latin Aegidius and ancient Greek roots. In the Philippines, it was introduced during the Spanish colonial era and remains a classic, traditional male given name, also well recognized due to prominent historical figures.

Gil entered the Philippines primarily through the Spanish naming tradition as the Hispanic descendant of the Latin name Aegidius (derived from Greek aigidion, meaning 'young goat' or associated with the aegis shield). It also exists independently in English and Hebrew traditions.

Spanish 80% English 20%

Name character

Strength
3/5
Modernity
2/5
Formal feel
3/5
Sound: Neutral Sage Pairs with long surnames Travels well High origin confidence

In the Philippines

Frequently used as a standalone single name or paired in compound names such as Gil Michael or Juan Gil. Pronunciation among Filipinos varies between the traditional Spanish /hil/ and the anglicized /ɡɪl/.

Best known for: Gil Puyat (former Senate President of the Philippines and namesake of Buendia/Gil Puyat Avenue)

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Gil with popular surnames

How the first name sits with a mother's maiden surname and father's surname.

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About the name Gil

How do I use Gil with two Filipino surnames?

Gil is the given name. The full name is Gil + mother's maiden surname + father's surname. Score a pair from a combination page or the homepage search.

Is Gil a common boy name in the Philippines?

PSA rank #260 describes how often this given name appears in Philippine records — not whether it is a better name. Fit with both family surnames still matters more for the birth certificate.