UK boy's name
Gillespie
A Scottish name meaning "follower of the church".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2013. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Gillespie is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Gillespie popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2013 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4685, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2013, with 3 births.
This profile covers 3 England and Wales registrations across 1 recorded years from 2013 to 2013. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
Gillespie is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 3 living people in the UK are called Gillespie. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2014 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Gillespie ranked #4685 for boys in England and Wales in 2013, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2013, when 3 boys were registered as Gillespie.
- • About 3 living people in the UK are estimated to have Gillespie as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4685
2013
Births in 2013
3
Latest year
Peak year
2013
3 births
Estimated living
3
2026
Meaning
What does Gillespie mean?
The name Gillespie has its origins in the Scottish Gaelic language and is a combination of two words: "gille" meaning "servant" or "lad," and "Espog" meaning "bishop." This suggests that the name originally referred to a servant or attendant of a bishop. It is believed to have emerged during the medieval period in Scotland, likely between the 11th and 13th centuries.
The earliest recorded instances of the name Gillespie can be traced back to the 13th century in Scotland. It was a common surname among Scottish families, particularly in the Highlands and Lowlands regions. As a given name, Gillespie gained popularity in the 16th and 17th centuries, during the Protestant Reformation.
One of the earliest notable figures with the name Gillespie was John Gillespie (1616-1675), a Scottish minister and theologian who played a significant role in the Covenanters' movement. He was a prominent figure in the Church of Scotland and was known for his opposition to the imposition of Episcopal government by King Charles I.
Another historical figure with the name Gillespie was Thomas Gillespie (1708-1774), a Scottish minister who founded the Relief Church in Scotland. He was a prominent figure in the Evangelical movement and advocated for greater religious tolerance and freedom of worship.
In the 19th century, Gillespie Parker (1823-1890) was a notable American politician and lawyer who served as the 17th Governor of New Jersey from 1869 to 1872. He played a significant role in the industrialization and economic development of the state during his tenure.
John Gillespie Magee Jr. (1922-1941) was a World War II Royal Canadian Air Force fighter pilot and poet. He is best known for his poem "High Flight," which is considered one of the most famous poems of the Second World War.
Another notable figure with the name Gillespie is Dizzy Gillespie (1917-1993), an American jazz trumpeter, bandleader, and composer. He was a key figure in the development of bebop and modern jazz and is renowned for his innovative style and contributions to the genre.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who bore the name Gillespie, highlighting its Scottish origins and its diverse use across various fields, including religion, politics, literature, and music.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Decades
Gillespie by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Gillespie was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #4685 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Gillespie
- George 121,258
- Gabriel 20,581
- Grayson 7,636
- Gregory 2,925
- Guy 2,646
- Gareth 2,092
- Gethin 1,880
- Georgie 1,872
- Gary 1,575
- Gavin 1,422
- Giovanni 1,252
- Grant 1,199
FAQ
Gillespie: questions and answers
How popular is the name Gillespie in the UK right now?
In 2013, Gillespie was ranked #4685 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Gillespie most popular?
The peak year on record was 2013, with 3 babies registered as Gillespie in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Gillespie?
A Scottish name meaning "follower of the church".
How many people are called Gillespie in the UK?
A total of 3 babies have been registered as Gillespie across the 1 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.