Meaning & History
Gilles is the French form of Giles. The name Giles ultimately derives from the Late Latin name Aegidius, which comes from Greek αἰγίδιον (aigidion) meaning "young goat". Saint Giles was an 8th-century miracle worker who traveled to southern France from Greece and is venerated as the patron saint of the crippled. In Old French, Aegidius evolved into Gidie and later Gilles, a form that was subsequently imported to England.
Etymology and History
The name's journey begins with Greek aigidion, diminutive of aix (goat). It passed into Latin as Aegidius and became common in Christian Europe due to the veneration of the hermit saint. In medieval France, it took on the form Gilles, which later spread to other regions including England, where it was also used alongside the direct borrowing Giles.
Notable Bearers
The 13th-century philosopher and theologian Giles of Rome (known in Italian as Egidio) was a prominent scholastic thinker. Another notable figure is the Sicilian Gilles of Assisi, a companion of Francis of Assisi.
Cultural Significance
In Belgian folklore, the Gilles are the iconic participants of the Carnival of Binche. These performers don elaborate wax masks and traditional costumes filled with straw. The tradition dates back at least to the late 18th century and was recognized by UNESCO as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. It is associated with the era of Mary of Hungary in the 16th century according to local legends.
Related names in other languages include Egidio (Italian), Gillis (Swedish), Gyles (English), and Aegidius (Late Roman). The feminine form Gillette also exists.
Key Facts
- Meaning: Young goat
- Origin: French form of Giles
- Type: Given name, masculine
- Usage: French, also widely used in French-speaking Belgium
- Patron Saint: Saint Giles, 8th-century hermit, patron of the crippled
Related Names
Sources: Wikipedia — Gilles