 The village's modern name of Pilar was adopted after its post office was incorporated in 1918.One story suggests that the name came from the daughter of the office's first postmaster, who was named for the Nuestra Señora del Pilar apparition of the Virgin Mary, which appeared on an old Roman pillar in Zaragoza, Spain.Another more commonly cited story suggests that the name was given to the post office in honor of an influential Native American (Hispanic-Ute) male who lived in the area by the name of José Pilar Vigil.