Is Lilian a boy, girl, or unisex name?

Lilian is commonly used as a Girl name.

How popular is Lilian?

It’s currently ranked #472 in the U.S. Recent trend: Falling.

How do you pronounce Lilian?

LIL-ee-uhn · IPA: /ˈlɪliən/

Lilian Girl

Popularity: #472 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Origin(s)

PronunciationLIL-ee-uhn / ˈlɪliən

Latin; English; French

Meaning

Latin: lily; English: pure; French: derived from Liliane

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Lilian is derived from the Latin word 'lilium,' meaning lily, which symbolizes purity and beauty. It gained popularity in the English-speaking world during the 19th century. The name has been used in various cultures and has several variants, reflecting its widespread appeal.

Trend Summary

Lilian has seen fluctuating popularity in the U.S., with a notable resurgence in recent years.

Variants

Lillian
Lilliana
Lily

International Variants

Liliane (French)
Lilliana (Italian)
Lilian (Spanish)

Famous people named Lilian

Lilian Gish was an American actress known for her work in silent films.

Lilian Thuram is a retired French footballer who won the FIFA World Cup in 1998.

Lilian Hellman was an American playwright and screenwriter recognized for her contributions to American theater.

Lilian Jackson Braun was an American author famous for her 'The Cat Who...' mystery series.

Fictional characters named Lilian

Lilian is a character in the video game 'Fire Emblem: Three Houses' known for her role as a student.

Lilian is a character in the animated series 'The Fairly OddParents' who appears as a friend of the main characters.

Sibling Suggestions

Lila Lydia Lena Leah Lara Lucy

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Lilian was first seen in the United States in 1880. Lilian has ranked as high as #708 nationally, which occurred in 2007, and has been most popular in California, Texas, New York, Illinois, and Florida. In the past 5 years the name Lilian has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

Top States for Lilian (2024)

Year:

State	Births	Share
CA	73	15%
TX	55	11%
FL	36	7%
NY	30	6%
NC	22	4%
VA	21	4%
PA	18	4%
IL	17	3%
AZ	17	3%
GA	15	3%
OH	15	3%
MN	14	3%
TN	14	3%
WA	14	3%
WI	14	3%

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

Year	Births
1880	19
1881	16
1882	24
1883	17
1884	22
1885	22
1886	24
1887	16
1888	22
1889	31
1890	21
1891	28
1892	24
1893	28
1894	22
1895	42
1896	37
1897	26
1898	33
1899	19
1900	30
1901	23
1902	18
1903	36
1904	28
1905	28
1906	28
1907	29
1908	32
1909	30
1910	33
1911	34
1912	53
1913	55
1914	53
1915	75
1916	85
1917	77
1918	105
1919	67
1920	81
1921	54
1922	60
1923	51
1924	42
1925	38
1926	48
1927	31
1928	32
1929	16
1930	20
1931	24
1932	30
1933	23
1934	16
1935	14
1936	17
1937	8
1938	8
1939	13
1940	13
1941	19
1942	14
1943	21
1944	17
1945	10
1946	12
1947	21
1948	11
1949	16
1950	15
1951	18
1952	8
1953	18
1954	15
1955	19
1956	18
1957	22
1958	27
1959	30
1960	41
1961	27
1962	25
1963	22
1964	24
1965	30
1966	34
1967	35
1968	38
1969	39
1970	42
1971	39
1972	46
1973	50
1974	61
1975	42
1976	50
1977	40
1978	51
1979	53
1980	53
1981	65
1982	58
1983	60
1984	68
1985	66
1986	62
1987	89
1988	99
1989	97
1990	147
1991	163
1992	129
1993	155
1994	143
1995	151
1996	186
1997	213
1998	264
1999	265
2000	328
2001	359
2002	440
2003	497
2004	541
2005	650
2006	724
2007	786
2008	730
2009	728
2010	681
2011	645
2012	675
2013	605
2014	620
2015	641
2016	560
2017	508
2018	494
2019	502
2020	439
2021	464
2022	519
2023	543
2024	542