Jill

Jill developed as a short form of Gillian, an English form from the Julian name family. That family ultimately leads to the Roman name Julius, whose deeper meaning is uncertain. Jill’s familiar, compact appearance can make it seem comparatively modern, but its connection with Gillian reaches back through much older English naming history.

The nursery rhyme Jack and Jill gives the name an immediate childhood association for many English speakers. That is a cultural connection rather than its origin or meaning. Jill can stand on its own or continue a family link to Gillian, and its one-syllable sound has long made it useful in everyday speech. Choosing Jill keeps the short form itself at the center, without requiring a longer official name.