Lillian
Meaninglily · English
- US rank
- #57
- Syllables
- 2
- Peak
- #10 in 1901
3,966 babies were named Lillian in the US in 2025. It has dropped 11 places in five years.
Found on lists
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US births per million girls, 1880–2025
Most popular states (2025)
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Lillian you might not know, from US birth records and Wikipedia. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
Famous Lillian
Lillian Gish
American actor, actress, motion picture producers and director, screenwriter
Choose Lillian and your child shares a first name with Lillian Gish, an American actor, actress, motion picture producers and director, screenwriter. A ready-made answer when someone asks “Lillian, like who?” Lillian Gish's Wikipedia article is available in 96 languages, a good sign of just how widely known they are.
Read about Lillian Gish on Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)Photo: Bain News Service; Uploaded by Calliopejen; Edited by jjron., Public domain (opens in a new tab), via Wikimedia Commons
- How commonAbout 1 in every 405 baby girls born in the US in 2025 was named Lillian, 3,966 babies in all. In a school of 500 kids, there'd probably be one other Lillian.
- HistoryLillian has been in use since at least 1880, the first year US birth records were kept. That's 145 years of Lillians, and counting.
- Best yearIt was far more popular in 1901, when it ranked #10. Today it's #57, so it could be due a comeback.
- Where it's lovedLillian is most popular in Maine, where it ranks #15, followed by South Carolina (#18) and Vermont (#21). It makes the top 1,000 in almost every state.
- MeaningIn English, Lillian means “lily”. Our records link it to English and Latin roots.
About the name Lillian
Lillian is a girl name of English and Latin origin meaning “lily”. It has 7 letters and 2 syllables, starting with L and ending in “-ian”. US birth records list Lillian for girls from 1880 to 2025, in 146 of those 146 years. Its best year was 1901, when it ranked #10 among girl names. In 2025 it ranked #57, with 3,966 babies.
Origin:English namesLatin names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 8,450 | 118 girls |
| 1890s | 10,787 | 93 girls |
| 1900s | 11,135 | 90 girls |
| 1910s | 9,515 | 105 girls |
| 1920s | 6,934 | 144 girls |
| 1930s | 3,507 | 285 girls |
| 1940s | 1,588 | 630 girls |
| 1950s | 864 | 1,157 girls |
| 1960s | 575 | 1,739 girls |
| 1970s | 345 | 2,895 girls |
| 1980s | 313 | 3,196 girls |
| 1990s | 628 | 1,591 girls |
| 2000s | 2,659 | 376 girls |
| 2010s | 3,707 | 270 girls |
| 2020s | 2,559 | 391 girls |
Other spellings of Lillian
More English girl names
- Girl name: Olivia · olive tree
- Girl name: Charlotte · free
- Unisex name: Harper · harp player
- Girl name: Elizabeth · God is my oath
- Girl name: Lily · lily flower
- Girl name: Lucy · light
- Girl name: Lainey · possibly light
- Girl name: Scarlett · scarlet red
Questions about the name Lillian
What does the name Lillian mean?
Lillian means “lily” in English.
What is the origin of the name Lillian?
Lillian has English, Latin roots in our records. Other English names include Olivia, Charlotte, Harper.
Is Lillian a boy or girl name?
Lillian is a girl name.
How popular is the name Lillian?
Lillian ranked #57 for US girls in 2025, given to 3,966 babies. Its best year was 1901 (#10).