Lily Girl

Popularity: #24 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: LIL-ee /ˈlɪli/

Origin: Latin; English

Meaning: Latin: purity; English: flower

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Lily derives from the Latin word "lilium," which means "lily" and refers to the flower known for its beauty and purity. This Latin term traces back to the earlier Greek word "krinon," which also signifies a type of lily.

The name entered the English language through Old French, where it was adopted as "lilie" during the Norman Conquest in the 11th century, eventually evolving into the modern English "Lily." The flower itself has long been associated with various cultural and religious significances, often symbolizing purity, innocence, and renewal. Historically, the lily has been a prominent symbol in various cultures and religions.

In Christianity, it is frequently associated with the Virgin Mary, representing her purity and motherhood. This connection is particularly evident in the artwork of the Renaissance period, where lilies are often depicted alongside Marian imagery.

The name Lily has also been borne by several notable figures throughout history, including Saint Anthony of Padua, who is often depicted with a lily, symbolizing his purity and devotion. The name gained further resonance through literary works and translations, such as the King James Bible, completed in the early 17th century, which references lilies in the context of divine beauty and care, notably in the Sermon on the Mount.

The enduring appeal of the name can also be attributed to its association with nature and beauty, making it a favored choice in various cultures. Additionally, diminutive forms like Lila or Lillie have emerged, reflecting the name's adaptability and affection in familial contexts.

Overall, the name Lily encapsulates a rich tapestry of linguistic roots, historical significance, and cultural symbolism.

Famous people named Lily

In this section, you will find notable people named Lily. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Lily who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Lily who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Lily Collins is an actress and model best known for Emily in Paris, The Blind Side, and Love, Rosie.

Lily Tomlin is an actress and comedian best known for Grace and Frankie, Nashville, and 9 to 5.

Lily James is an actress best known for Cinderella, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, and Baby Driver.

Lily Aldridge is a model best known for her work with Victoria's Secret and for being a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue model.

Lily Rabe is an actress best known for American Horror Story, The Good Wife, and All Good Things.

Lily Allen is a singer and songwriter best known for her albums Alright, Still, It's Not Me, It's You, and Sheezus.

Lily Pichus is a musician best known for her work in the indie music scene and her contributions to various collaborative projects.

Fictional characters named Lily

The following list of fictional characters named Lily is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Lily Potter is a fictional character from the book series Harry Potter. She is the mother of the protagonist, Harry, and is known for her sacrifice to protect him from Voldemort.

Lily Aldrin is a fictional character from the TV series How I Met Your Mother. She is a passionate artist and a close friend of the main character, Ted Mosby.

Lily Munster is a fictional character from the TV series The Munsters. She is the matriarch of the Munster family, known for her loving nature and vampire heritage.

Lily Evans is a fictional character from the book series Harry Potter. She is a key figure in the backstory, known for her friendship with Severus Snape and her eventual marriage to James Potter.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Lily, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

RoseVioletDaisyIrisJasminePoppy

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Lily. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

LilaLaylaLinaLolaLeilaLanaLara

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Lily was first seen in the United States in 1880.

Lily has ranked as high as #59 nationally, which occurred in 2011, and has been most popular in California, Texas, New York, Florida, and Pennsylvania.

In the past 5 years the name Lily has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Lily is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Lily was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Top States for Lily (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.

State Births Share
CA 709
12%
TX 605
10%
FL 367
6%
NY 336
6%
PA 251
4%
NC 203
3%
GA 200
3%
IL 183
3%
OH 180
3%
NJ 178
3%
TN 172
3%
VA 157
3%
MA 147
2%
AZ 142
2%
WA 137
2%

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Lily.

YearBirths
20246,093
20236,170
20226,007
20215,629
20205,251
20195,458
20185,752
20175,861
20166,608
20156,679
20146,785
20137,002
20127,969
20118,192
20107,992
20098,101
20088,127
20077,499
20066,768
20056,089
20045,402
20034,434
20023,834
20013,197
20002,733
19992,123
19981,752
19971,355
19961,091
1995853
1994648
1993557
1992523
1991473
1990396
1989416
1988401
1987309
1986292
1985243
1984224
1983206
1982208
1981223
1980187
1979150
1978111
1977107
1976134
1975122
1974107
1973102
1972139
1971122
1970125
1969116
196899
196796
1966112
196594
1964133
1963123
1962120
1961128
1960127
1959127
1958149
1957149
1956159
1955165
1954144
1953130
1952133
1951135
1950135
1949131
1948139
1947138
1946122
1945142
1944154
1943160
1942173
1941166
1940186
1939168
1938195
1937178
1936202
1935210
1934216
1933242
1932245
1931268
1930305
1929302
1928345
1927366
1926344
1925362
1924409
1923418
1922418
1921407
1920386
1919368
1918388
1917330
1916373
1915343
1914252
1913212
1912245
1911130
1910154
1909109
1908102
1907104
190682
1905134
1904105
190395
190299
190189
1900126
1899115
189892
1897113
1896100
1895101
1894108
189383
189298
189173
189096
188984
1888102
188759
188675
188588
188460
188362
188263
188146
188041