masc. proper name, from L.L.
Hilarius, lit. "cheerful," from L.
hilaris (see
hilarity). The name was more popular in France than in England. The woman's name (M.E.
Hillaria) seems to be merged from
Eulalia, name of the patron saint of Barcelona, a Latinization of Gk.
eulalos "sweetly speaking." The
Hilary sessions of British High Court and universities (1577) are from
St. Hilarius, Bishop of Poitiers, obit. C.E. 368, whose feast day is Jan. 13.
[hil-uh-ree] 
ə