Fun Facts About the Name Lillian
- Back among the favorites: Lillian returned to the U.S. top 100 in 1883 and stayed there for 24 consecutive years, through 2025.
- More than 476 thousand babies named Lillian: U.S. records list 476,419 babies given the name Lillian from 1880 through 2025. Even 1,429 boys received the name Lillian - about 1 boy for every 332 girls.
What Does the Name Lillian Mean?
Lillian is an English feminine name generally understood to mean "lily." It is a variant of Lilian, which comes from the Latin word lilium, meaning "lily." The same Latin root lies behind the English flower name lily and the given name Lily. In this derivation, the -ian ending is part of the name's form rather than a separate word with its own meaning. A secondary tradition treats Lily, and sometimes Lillian, as a pet form of Elizabeth, a name from Hebrew Elisheva, often interpreted as "God is my oath." That is a separate association rather than the usual etymology of Lillian, so it does not change the primary meaning.
Lillian Name History & Origins
The name belongs to a family of European names built on the Latin word for the lily. Latin lilium passed into Old French and Middle English as the ordinary word for the flower, and the English given name Lily comes from that flower name. Lilian is an older English form; Lillian, with a double l, is a later spelling variant that became common in the modern period. In medieval England, Lily and related forms were sometimes used as affectionate substitutes for Elizabeth, which gave the name a second, unrelated root in Hebrew. Both spellings remain in use in English.
How Popular is the Name Lillian?
Lillian ranked among the top 100 U.S. names from 1880 through 1940, then returned in 2002 and remained through 2025.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #57 | 3,966 | 0.2468% |
| 2024 | #54 | 3,882 | 0.2406% |
| 2023 | #55 | 3,937 | 0.2457% |
| 2022 | #50 | 4,256 | 0.2597% |
| 2021 | #51 | 4,327 | 0.2639% |
| 2020 | #46 | 4,511 | 0.2792% |
| 2019 | #37 | 5,126 | 0.3056% |
| 2018 | #34 | 5,566 | 0.3273% |
| 2017 | #27 | 6,179 | 0.3580% |
| 2016 | #28 | 6,385 | 0.3604% |
| 2015 | #26 | 6,625 | 0.3712% |
| 2014 | #25 | 6,924 | 0.3877% |
| 2013 | #26 | 7,083 | 0.4037% |
| 2012 | #25 | 7,171 | 0.4073% |
| 2011 | #22 | 6,932 | 0.3941% |
| 2010 | #22 | 6,957 | 0.3914% |
| 2009 | #27 | 6,861 | 0.3735% |
| 2008 | #29 | 6,817 | 0.3606% |
| 2007 | #33 | 6,552 | 0.3408% |
| 2006 | #38 | 6,236 | 0.3280% |
| 2005 | #50 | 5,214 | 0.2822% |
| 2004 | #65 | 4,734 | 0.2578% |
| 2003 | #76 | 4,030 | 0.2206% |
| 2002 | #96 | 3,397 | 0.1891% |
| 2001 | #111 | 2,951 | 0.1639% |
| 2000 | #129 | 2,600 | 0.1432% |
| 1999 | #147 | 2,190 | 0.1235% |
| 1998 | #174 | 1,718 | 0.0972% |
| 1997 | #215 | 1,393 | 0.0800% |
| 1996 | #251 | 1,127 | 0.0643% |
| 1995 | #294 | 942 | 0.0536% |
| 1994 | #308 | 882 | 0.0494% |
| 1993 | #347 | 736 | 0.0407% |
| 1992 | #348 | 749 | 0.0406% |
| 1991 | #342 | 770 | 0.0411% |
| 1990 | #366 | 722 | 0.0380% |
| 1989 | #369 | 695 | 0.0377% |
| 1988 | #373 | 646 | 0.0363% |
| 1987 | #420 | 531 | 0.0305% |
| 1986 | #404 | 554 | 0.0323% |
| 1985 | #413 | 540 | 0.0314% |
| 1984 | #444 | 468 | 0.0278% |
| 1983 | #456 | 453 | 0.0271% |
| 1982 | #449 | 475 | 0.0281% |
| 1981 | #420 | 517 | 0.0310% |
| 1980 | #425 | 510 | 0.0307% |
| 1979 | #464 | 436 | 0.0272% |
| 1978 | #487 | 399 | 0.0260% |
| 1977 | #435 | 470 | 0.0307% |
| 1976 | #422 | 479 | 0.0327% |
| 1975 | #436 | 455 | 0.0312% |
| 1974 | #413 | 482 | 0.0328% |
| 1973 | #373 | 564 | 0.0387% |
| 1972 | #355 | 620 | 0.0408% |
| 1971 | #361 | 675 | 0.0406% |
| 1970 | #335 | 783 | 0.0448% |
| 1969 | #324 | 773 | 0.0458% |
| 1968 | #308 | 813 | 0.0496% |
| 1967 | #298 | 843 | 0.0511% |
| 1966 | #285 | 881 | 0.0521% |
| 1965 | #271 | 1,017 | 0.0576% |
| 1964 | #275 | 1,064 | 0.0562% |
| 1963 | #258 | 1,164 | 0.0604% |
| 1962 | #244 | 1,308 | 0.0665% |
| 1961 | #240 | 1,311 | 0.0650% |
| 1960 | #223 | 1,433 | 0.0709% |
| 1959 | #218 | 1,468 | 0.0725% |
| 1958 | #218 | 1,421 | 0.0706% |
| 1957 | #209 | 1,604 | 0.0784% |
| 1956 | #201 | 1,630 | 0.0812% |
| 1955 | #195 | 1,658 | 0.0848% |
| 1954 | #194 | 1,627 | 0.0838% |
| 1953 | #186 | 1,657 | 0.0881% |
| 1952 | #178 | 1,733 | 0.0935% |
| 1951 | #167 | 1,826 | 0.1014% |
| 1950 | #156 | 1,884 | 0.1100% |
| 1949 | #153 | 1,944 | 0.1136% |
| 1948 | #136 | 2,116 | 0.1246% |
| 1947 | #143 | 2,090 | 0.1179% |
| 1946 | #129 | 2,160 | 0.1375% |
| 1945 | #124 | 2,017 | 0.1543% |
| 1944 | #126 | 2,120 | 0.1597% |
| 1943 | #116 | 2,392 | 0.1714% |
| 1942 | #111 | 2,488 | 0.1842% |
| 1941 | #104 | 2,462 | 0.2038% |
| 1940 | #97 | 2,525 | 0.2208% |
| 1939 | #99 | 2,551 | 0.2326% |
| 1938 | #88 | 2,824 | 0.2559% |
| 1937 | #84 | 2,899 | 0.2725% |
| 1936 | #79 | 3,118 | 0.2997% |
| 1935 | #66 | 3,423 | 0.3264% |
| 1934 | #52 | 3,973 | 0.3805% |
| 1933 | #51 | 3,998 | 0.3967% |
| 1932 | #48 | 4,352 | 0.4078% |
| 1931 | #47 | 4,807 | 0.4515% |
| 1930 | #44 | 5,448 | 0.4839% |
| 1929 | #40 | 5,711 | 0.5115% |
| 1928 | #35 | 6,577 | 0.5703% |
| 1927 | #32 | 7,182 | 0.6023% |
| 1926 | #28 | 7,661 | 0.6463% |
| 1925 | #25 | 8,352 | 0.6861% |
| 1924 | #23 | 9,100 | 0.7287% |
| 1923 | #20 | 9,327 | 0.7731% |
| 1922 | #19 | 9,430 | 0.7852% |
| 1921 | #19 | 9,770 | 0.7923% |
| 1920 | #18 | 10,049 | 0.8386% |
| 1919 | #17 | 9,516 | 0.8420% |
| 1918 | #15 | 9,986 | 0.8626% |
| 1917 | #15 | 9,843 | 0.9103% |
| 1916 | #16 | 9,592 | 0.9185% |
| 1915 | #15 | 9,546 | 0.9703% |
| 1914 | #16 | 7,354 | 0.9656% |
| 1913 | #16 | 6,015 | 0.9631% |
| 1912 | #14 | 5,568 | 0.9976% |
| 1911 | #13 | 4,367 | 1.0440% |
| 1910 | #14 | 4,127 | 1.0408% |
| 1909 | #14 | 3,596 | 1.0356% |
| 1908 | #13 | 3,634 | 1.0870% |
| 1907 | #13 | 3,542 | 1.1119% |
| 1906 | #13 | 3,293 | 1.1151% |
| 1905 | #13 | 3,185 | 1.0922% |
| 1904 | #12 | 3,139 | 1.1399% |
| 1903 | #13 | 2,972 | 1.1345% |
| 1902 | #11 | 3,063 | 1.1599% |
| 1901 | #10 | 2,681 | 1.1201% |
| 1900 | #10 | 3,414 | 1.1388% |
| 1899 | #10 | 2,703 | 1.1600% |
| 1898 | #10 | 3,061 | 1.1829% |
| 1897 | #11 | 2,683 | 1.1456% |
| 1896 | #11 | 2,702 | 1.1357% |
| 1895 | #16 | 2,495 | 1.0679% |
| 1894 | #16 | 2,441 | 1.0950% |
| 1893 | #20 | 2,193 | 1.0300% |
| 1892 | #20 | 2,154 | 1.0144% |
| 1891 | #20 | 1,812 | 0.9769% |
| 1890 | #19 | 1,862 | 0.9781% |
| 1889 | #23 | 1,640 | 0.9195% |
| 1888 | #23 | 1,656 | 0.9271% |
| 1887 | #26 | 1,308 | 0.8960% |
| 1886 | #24 | 1,282 | 0.8870% |
| 1885 | #27 | 1,143 | 0.8590% |
| 1884 | #26 | 1,109 | 0.8596% |
| 1883 | #26 | 907 | 0.8075% |
| 1882 | #32 | 830 | 0.7696% |
| 1881 | #32 | 723 | 0.7863% |
| 1880 | #32 | 672 | 0.7385% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | #13,286 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2017 | #10,352 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2016 | #7,926 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2015 | #13,260 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2013 | #13,284 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2012 | #13,439 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2011 | #8,506 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2009 | #11,890 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2008 | #8,731 | 9 | 0.0004% |
| 2007 | #7,949 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2006 | #7,785 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2005 | #8,053 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2004 | #3,816 | 24 | 0.0012% |
| 2000 | #11,477 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1999 | #10,932 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1990 | #6,184 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1988 | #6,922 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1985 | #4,982 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1979 | #6,646 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1971 | #5,358 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1970 | #5,154 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1969 | #4,216 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1967 | #4,319 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1966 | #3,144 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1965 | #2,905 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1963 | #3,864 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1962 | #3,863 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1961 | #3,542 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 1960 | #2,790 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1958 | #3,450 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 1957 | #2,930 | 9 | 0.0004% |
| 1956 | #4,244 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1955 | #3,107 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1954 | #3,320 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 1953 | #3,641 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1951 | #2,785 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1949 | #3,547 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1948 | #3,976 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1945 | #2,507 | 9 | 0.0007% |
| 1944 | #2,403 | 10 | 0.0007% |
| 1943 | #2,129 | 13 | 0.0009% |
| 1942 | #1,838 | 16 | 0.0012% |
| 1941 | #1,668 | 18 | 0.0015% |
| 1940 | #2,045 | 13 | 0.0011% |
| 1939 | #1,840 | 15 | 0.0014% |
| 1938 | #1,944 | 14 | 0.0013% |
| 1937 | #1,666 | 18 | 0.0017% |
| 1936 | #1,620 | 18 | 0.0017% |
| 1935 | #1,800 | 16 | 0.0015% |
| 1934 | #1,413 | 24 | 0.0023% |
| 1933 | #1,436 | 23 | 0.0023% |
| 1932 | #1,247 | 30 | 0.0029% |
| 1931 | #1,120 | 37 | 0.0036% |
| 1930 | #1,318 | 30 | 0.0027% |
| 1929 | #1,050 | 43 | 0.0040% |
| 1928 | #1,025 | 46 | 0.0042% |
| 1927 | #1,050 | 45 | 0.0040% |
| 1926 | #1,422 | 27 | 0.0024% |
| 1925 | #1,560 | 24 | 0.0022% |
| 1924 | #1,236 | 35 | 0.0031% |
| 1923 | #1,248 | 34 | 0.0031% |
| 1922 | #1,384 | 29 | 0.0027% |
| 1921 | #1,621 | 23 | 0.0021% |
| 1920 | #1,484 | 26 | 0.0024% |
| 1919 | #1,434 | 26 | 0.0027% |
| 1918 | #1,573 | 23 | 0.0023% |
| 1917 | #1,191 | 33 | 0.0036% |
| 1916 | #1,361 | 26 | 0.0029% |
| 1915 | #1,394 | 24 | 0.0028% |
| 1914 | #979 | 33 | 0.0050% |
| 1913 | #1,133 | 21 | 0.0041% |
| 1912 | #809 | 30 | 0.0070% |
| 1911 | #959 | 13 | 0.0058% |
| 1910 | #806 | 15 | 0.0077% |
| 1909 | #740 | 15 | 0.0091% |
| 1908 | #992 | 9 | 0.0058% |
| 1907 | #687 | 15 | 0.0102% |
| 1906 | #665 | 14 | 0.0105% |
| 1905 | #776 | 11 | 0.0083% |
| 1904 | #789 | 10 | 0.0078% |
| 1903 | #682 | 12 | 0.0101% |
| 1902 | #632 | 13 | 0.0106% |
| 1901 | #482 | 17 | 0.0160% |
| 1900 | #824 | 11 | 0.0073% |
| 1899 | #831 | 8 | 0.0075% |
| 1898 | #558 | 15 | 0.0122% |
| 1897 | #599 | 13 | 0.0115% |
| 1896 | #706 | 11 | 0.0092% |
| 1895 | #628 | 12 | 0.0102% |
| 1894 | #914 | 7 | 0.0060% |
| 1893 | #739 | 9 | 0.0080% |
| 1892 | #723 | 10 | 0.0082% |
| 1891 | #678 | 9 | 0.0089% |
| 1890 | #648 | 10 | 0.0090% |
| 1889 | #852 | 7 | 0.0063% |
| 1888 | #878 | 7 | 0.0058% |
| 1887 | #884 | 6 | 0.0059% |
| 1884 | #923 | 6 | 0.0052% |
| 1883 | #850 | 6 | 0.0057% |
| 1882 | #904 | 6 | 0.0053% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
