Gilles
/G-IH-L-L-EH-S/
Young goat, shield-bearer, the French form of Giles, from Greek through Latin, linked to a word for a kid-skin shield. Borne by a hermit saint and protector, it carries senses of guardianship and shelter, and remains a classic name across the French-speaking world.
Get Gilles's full report — patron saint, feast day & a portrait — freeQuick — what every Christian parent asks about Gilles:
How well does Gilles fit your family?
This page tells you what Gilles means. The app tells you whether it's right for your baby — scored against your family & your heritage, and your baby's birth details.
Unlock Gilles's score — free
Six signals — scored for your family & heritage, not in the abstract:
Meaning & origin
Yes — Gilles is a Christian boy name of French origin, meaning “Young goat, shield-bearer, the French form of Giles, from Greek through Latin, linked to a word for a kid-skin shield. Borne by a hermit saint and protector, it carries senses of guardianship and shelter, and remains a classic name across the French-speaking world.”.
Gilles is a boy's name of French origin, traditionally used in Christian families. The name means "Young goat, shield-bearer, the French form of Giles, from Greek through Latin, linked to a word for a kid-skin shield. Borne by a hermit saint and protector, it carries senses of guardianship and shelter, and remains a classic name across the French-speaking world." and belongs to the Courage cluster — names for children who will grow into bold, fearless hearts.
Common among French, European families, Gilles carries cultural weight that goes beyond its dictionary definition — it's a name with a story and a community.
The patron saint & feast day behind Gilles
Many Christian names carry a patron saint and a feast day (name day) — a tradition of choosing a name for the saint a child is born near, or one the family holds dear. Gilles lives in this tradition of meaning and heritage.
NameRoot connects the dots. See Gilles's patron saint, its feast day, and whether it aligns with your baby's birth — alongside its full family score.
See Gilles's saint & feast day →What does Gilles's numerology say?
Numerology assigns each name a single-digit destiny number by summing its letter values. Different schools use different mappings — NameRoot computes both so you can see how Gilles resonates in either tradition.
Gilles's destiny number is 1 — but a number only matters in context. The app matches it to your family's own numbers for a real compatibility read. See Gilles's full reading →
Does Gilles go with your family's names?
Gilles breaks into 6 sounds: /G-IH-L-L-EH-S/. The real test isn't how it sounds alone — it's how it sounds beside the names already in your family: yours, your partner's, and any brothers or sisters. NameRoot scores that harmony, so Gilles sits naturally next to a Mum and Dad like Michael & Anna, or a big sister named Gianna — no awkward clashes, no two names that blur together. Hear Gilles beside your family's names →
Nicknames
Common affectionate forms of Gilles — useful for everyday family conversation, early childhood, or as standalone given names themselves.
Names similar to Gilles
If Gilles resonates with you, these names live in the same world — drawn from the same tradition, sharing the same meaning, or echoing a similar sound.
From the same tradition
Other Christian boy names, common in French families
Sharing the same meaning
Other Christian boy names from the Courage cluster
Names that sound similar
Christian boy names that open with the same syllables as Gilles
Explore more names
Keep exploring names like Gilles — by tradition, by meaning, or by first letter.
Common questions about Gilles
What does the name Gilles mean?
Gilles means "Young goat, shield-bearer, the French form of Giles, from Greek through Latin, linked to a word for a kid-skin shield. Borne by a hermit saint and protector, it carries senses of guardianship and shelter, and remains a classic name across the French-speaking world.." It is a boy name of French origin, traditionally used in Christian families.
Is Gilles a boy or girl name?
Gilles is most commonly used as a boy name.
What is the origin of the name Gilles?
Gilles is of French origin, used in Christian tradition, commonly among French, European families.
Is Gilles a Christian name?
Yes. Gilles is a boy name traditionally used in Christian families, of French origin.
What does Gilles mean in French?
Gilles originates from French, where it means "Young goat, shield-bearer, the French form of Giles, from Greek through Latin, linked to a word for a kid-skin shield. Borne by a hermit saint and protector, it carries senses of guardianship and shelter, and remains a classic name across the French-speaking world.."
What are common nicknames for Gilles?
Common short forms of Gilles include Gili, Gill.
What is the numerology of Gilles?
Gilles has a Pythagorean destiny number of 1 — leadership and pioneering spirit.
When is Gilles's feast day?
Gilles's feast day — its traditional Christian name day — is September 1.
See how Gilles scores for your family
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