A Spanish name of Latin origin.
Pilar derives from the Spanish title of the Virgin Mary, “Nuestra Señora del Pilar”, meaning “Our Lady of the Pillar”.
According to the legend, when Saint James was praying on the banks of the river Ebro, near the city of Zaragoza in Spain, the Virgin Mary appears to him on a six-foot pillar in order to comfort and encourage him.
The name originates from the Latin word “pila”, meaning “pilar”, “stone barrier”.
Other forms of the name are Pelar, Pili, Pillar.
Pilar was ranked #72 in Portugal (2016).
Famous bearers are Pilar Pellicer, Pilar Bastardés, Pilar Bardem, Pilar Miró, Pilar del Castillo, Pilar Rubio, Pilar Lopez de Ayala, Pilar Barreiro, Pilar Barrios, Pilar Bosley, Pilar Montenegro.