Declining since 2011, #252 for girls today.
Popularity of Lilly since 1880
Babies named Lilly per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 781 |
| 1890s | 1,107 |
| 1900s | 1,314 |
| 1910s | 2,369 |
| 1920s | 2,964 |
| 1930s | 2,034 |
| 1940s | 1,596 |
| 1950s | 1,416 |
| 1960s | 1,134 |
| 1970s | 630 |
| 1980s | 714 |
| 1990s | 2,270 |
| 2000s | 17,271 |
| 2010s | 23,527 |
| 2020s | 7,601 |
Meaning & origin
Lilly has been a consistent presence in American baby names since 1880, the earliest year of Social Security data. It reached its peak popularity in 2011, ranking 252 that year, with a 1-in-1,320 birth rate as of 2025. Since 2011, its usage has been on a gradual decline. The name is most popular in states with floral-name traditions, including North Dakota, West Virginia, and Montana. As a variant spelling of Lily, it offers a slightly different look while maintaining the same floral charm.
Lilly is a spelling variant of Lily, which comes from the Latin lilium referring to the lily flower. The name gained popularity in the 19th century as part of the Victorian flower-naming trend. It has remained in common use in English-speaking countries, often as a diminutive of Lillian or Elizabeth.
Where Lilly is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Lilly” around the world
Where Lilly lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
45
babies in 2024
Ireland
32
babies in 2025
New Zealand
32
babies in 2025
Quebec
9
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · CSO Ireland (Ireland) · NZ Dept of Internal Affairs (New Zealand) · Retraite Québec (Quebec).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Lil, Lee
Sibling names for Lilly
Names that share Lilly's style, for a brother or sister.
Names like Lilly
Names whose popularity has moved with Lilly's over the last 50 years.
