Lillian
Lillian: name meaning, origin and popularity
Meaning and origin of Lillian
Root meaning: “lily”
- A female given name from Latin, of American usage; variant form Lilian (UK).
Etymology
Used since the sixteenth century, possibly originally a pet form of Elizabeth, but generally accepted as a variant of Late Latin lilium (“lily”).
How popular is Lillian?
Since 1880, 475,028 girls and 1,429 boys in the U.S. have been named Lillian (100% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #10 in 1898. Its highest rank for boys was #482 in 1901. In 2025 it ranked #57 for girls, with 3,966 babies given the name.
Names similar to Lillian
Names that start with the same letters, most popular first.
More Latin girl names
Sibling name ideas for Lillian
Sister and brother names that share Lillian's Latin roots and are still in the U.S. top 1,000.
Lillian FAQ
What does the name Lillian mean?
Lillian traces back to a root meaning "lily". A female given name from Latin, of American usage; variant form Lilian (UK). Used since the sixteenth century, possibly originally a pet form of Elizabeth, but generally accepted as a variant of Late Latin lilium (“lily”).
What is the origin of the name Lillian?
Lillian is listed as a name of Latin origin.
How popular is the name Lillian?
Since 1880, 475,028 girls and 1,429 boys in the U.S. have been named Lillian (100% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #10 in 1898. Its highest rank for boys was #482 in 1901. In 2025 it ranked #57 for girls, with 3,966 babies given the name.
Is Lillian a boy or girl name?
Lillian is mostly a girl name in the U.S.: 475,028 girls and 1,429 boys since 1880.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880–2025 (names given to 5+ babies per year). Origin and etymology text: Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.