Lilian
Lilian was the 560th most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 537 babies. Its best year was 1882, when it ranked 367th; the most babies were born in 2007 (786). Over the last ten years it has moved down 63 places. More babies were named Lilian in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Meaning (as Lillian) lily (probably) · Latin, English
- Rank in 2025
- #560 girls, up 96 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 537girls
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a girl’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 2007786 babies
- Total since 1880
- 20,470babies recorded
What does the name Lilian mean?
Lilian is a spelling of Lillian, pronounced the same way, so it shares Lillian's meaning and origin.
Lillian has been used since the 16th century. Wiktionary gives two explanations: it may have begun as a pet form of Elizabeth, as Lilibet and Lillie did, but it is generally taken as a name formed from Latin lilium, 'lily', the flower that stood for purity in Christian art. The double-l spelling is the usual American form; British usage prefers Lilian. Lily and Lillie are common short forms.
līlium (Latin, “lily”)
How sure is this? Probable. The lily derivation is generally accepted; an origin as a pet form of Elizabeth is also possible.
Related names: Lilian, Lily, Lillie, Liliana, Elizabeth.
See also: Latin names, names that mean flower.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Lillian', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
- Wiktionary, entry 'Lilian', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
- Wiktionary, entry 'Lily', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
Lilian popularity since 1880
| Year | Rank (girls) | Babies (girls) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #560 | 537 |
| 2020 | #656 | 439 |
| 2010 | #452 | 682 |
| 2000 | #709 | 328 |
| 1990 | #1,174 | 147 |
| 1980 | #1,994 | 53 |
| 1970 | #1,997 | 42 |
| 1960 | #1,777 | 41 |
| 1950 | #2,724 | 15 |
| 1940 | #2,371 | 13 |
| 1930 | #1,845 | 20 |
| 1920 | #810 | 81 |
| 1910 | #747 | 33 |
| 1900 | #648 | 30 |
| 1890 | #575 | 21 |
| 1880 | #380 | 19 |
How popular is Lilian, counting every spelling?
Lilian is a spelling of Lillian, a name family that ranked #55 for girls in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #560 for Lilian on its own. Together these spellings went to 4,696 girls in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lillian | 3,966 | #57 | 20,387 |
| Lilian | 537 | #560 | 2,607 |
| Lilliann | 39 | #3,811 | 215 |
| Lilyan | 35 | #4,132 | 204 |
| Lillianne | 33 | #4,311 | 196 |
| Liliane | 29 | #4,709 | 142 |
| Lilianne | 23 | #5,493 | 122 |
| Liliann | 13 | #8,141 | 71 |
| Lilliane | 5 | #16,306 | 42 |
| Lyllian | 5 | #16,339 | 36 |
| Lylian | 6 | #14,254 | 35 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Lilian?
537 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Lilian (0.15 per 1,000 births). For a girl named Lilian born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 16 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Lilian.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Lilian?
About 18,100 people born in the US named Lilian are alive today, with a median age of 17; half are between 10 and 24. That makes Lilian mostly worn by children and young adults.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Lilian by state
How common Lilian was among girls born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Arizona (1.7×), Colorado (1.7×), Wisconsin (1.7×), Massachusetts (1.5×), Maryland (1.5×). It is least common, relative to the national rate, in Iowa, Oregon, Alabama.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Lilian: their share of US girls followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Lilian, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Lilian
What does Lilian mean?
Lilian is a spelling of Lillian, which means “lily (probably)” (Latin, English origin). Certainty: probable.
How popular is the name Lilian?
Lilian was the 560th most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 537 babies. Its best year was 1882, when it ranked 367th; the most babies were born in 2007 (786). Over the last ten years it has moved down 63 places. More babies were named Lilian in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Is Lilian a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a girl’s name given the name Lilian in the US.
Where is Lilian most popular?
In 2021–2025, Lilian was most common in Arizona (0.55 per 1,000 girls), followed by Colorado and Wisconsin.