Rising since 1985, #18 for girls today.
Popularity of Lily since 1880
Babies named Lily per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 680 |
| 1890s | 979 |
| 1900s | 1,045 |
| 1910s | 2,795 |
| 1920s | 3,757 |
| 1930s | 2,229 |
| 1940s | 1,511 |
| 1950s | 1,426 |
| 1960s | 1,148 |
| 1970s | 1,220 |
| 1980s | 2,708 |
| 1990s | 9,772 |
| 2000s | 56,186 |
| 2010s | 68,316 |
| 2020s | 35,872 |
Meaning & origin
Lily's modern run has been remarkably durable. The name began climbing in 1985, reached its peak in 2011, and has barely budged since, it stood 18th among American girls in 2025, given to roughly one in every 241 newborn girls. That arc mirrors the whole flower-name revival, which Lily arguably led: it hit the mainstream before Violet or Ivy and has outlasted the sharper rises and falls of both.
Its appeal is easy to name. Two light syllables, a built-in association with purity dating to the flower's role in Christian art, and a Victorian pedigree that keeps it from feeling invented. The name is spread broadly across the country but runs strongest in Hawaii, the District of Columbia, and Vermont, a coastal, urban-leaning pattern shared by other soft classic revivals.
Parents choosing Lily today should expect company; a top-20 name means a Lily or two in most elementary schools, plus Lilly, Lillie, and the longer Liliana nearby. What they get in exchange is a name with no era stamped on it, equally plausible on a Victorian birth certificate and a kindergarten roster.
Lily is a flower name, from the plant whose English name descends from Latin lilium (itself likely borrowed, via Greek leirion, from an older Mediterranean source). In Christian art the lily symbolizes purity and is closely associated with the Virgin Mary, which gave the name devotional overtones when the Victorian flower-name vogue brought it into fashion in the late nineteenth century alongside Violet, Daisy, and Rose. It has also served historically as a pet form of Lilian and Elizabeth. After fading through the mid-twentieth century, Lily returned with the broader flower-name revival beginning in the 1980s and 1990s and reestablished itself as a mainstream classic.
Read more: Lily on Wikipedia
Where Lily 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.
“Lily” around the world
Where Lily lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
#76
in 2024
Ireland
#1
in 2025
New Zealand
#6
in 2025
Quebec
#33
in 2025
Australia (NSW)
#9
in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · CSO Ireland (Ireland) · NZ Dept of Internal Affairs (New Zealand) · Retraite Québec (Quebec) · NSW Registry of BDM (Australia (NSW)).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Lil, Lils
Famous people named Lily
- Lily Tomlin · American comedian and actress
- Lily Collins · British-American actress
- Lily James · English actress
Sibling names for Lily
Names that share Lily's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Violet, Daisy, Ivy, Rose, Hazel, Sophie, Ella, Grace, Allie, Ana, April, Aubrey, Callie, Eva, Eve, Evie, Flora, Gracie, Jana, Jasmine, Jennie, Jenny, Jo, Josie, Kate, Molly, Nellie, Reese, Rosa, Rosalie, Rosie, Summer, Tessa, Viola, Abbi, Abbie, Alianna, Ally, Azalea, Bambi, Camellia, Carmel, Cassy, Cherry, Chloee, Clover, Dahlia, Dolly, Emmie, Emmy, Esme, Fanny, Ferne, Gabby, Genna, Hanah, Hollie, Iris, Jaidyn, Jasmin, Jeanie, Jemma, Joi, Joselyn, Juli, Keira, Kitty, Laney, Libby, Mai, Meadow, Melani, Melany, Merry, Millie, Mimi, Mollie, Nana, Nelly, Pansy, Polly, Poppy, Queen, Rosalee, Rosy, Vicky, Yareli, Zoe, Zoey, Addy, Aime, Amaryllis, Amee, Anise, Annalynn, Anny, Autum, Azalee, Bebe, Bee, Blossom, Cady, Calla, Calli, Camelia, Camie, Cammie, Cherri, Cherrie, Chole, Cloe, Cloey, Daisey, Daysi, Deisy, Deysi, Dot, Dyana, Ellee, Ellia, Elly, Elza, Ema, Emilyn, Emme, Emy, Evy, Fae, Fairy, Gaby, Gardenia, Genny, Gigi, Gracee, Graci, Gracy, Halee, Hali, Holley, Honey, Ivie, Izzy, Janey, Josey, Jozie, Jule, Kady, Kally, Kloe, Lady, Lavender, Lemon, Lili, Lotus, Lu, Lyssa, Maizie, Marigold, Maryn, Milly, Molli, Mykah, Neely, Nicol, Penney, Pinkie, Pippa, Roselee, Roseline, Rosey, Sonnie, Spring, Tiny, Yancy, Zinnia, Zoee, Adelin, Ailey, Alie, Alis, Annagrace, Annalie, Aprile, Aprill, Aster, Aubre, Aunna, Avory, Avy, Aymee, Azaleah, Azilee, Babe, Beauty, Blimy, Cece, Clarie, Clary, Daisie, Daizy, Daphene, Darlin, Dasie, Deisi, Dorrie, Ellieanna, Ellyanna, Elysha, Emmagrace, Evee, Florie, Hally, Hayzel, Hollye, Idy, Ily, Ivee, Jassmine, Jenne, Jenney, Jessye, Jinnie, Jocie, Jolly, Jorgia, Josi, Katty, Katye, Konnie, Lillis, Ma, Maddi, Madi, Maggi, Maggy, Maily, Mareli, Masie, Matty, Mayli, Miarose, Milli, Mily, Mintie, Mulan, Nely, Peaches, Pheobe, Pink, Pinkey, Pollyanna, Posey, Posie, Primrose, Rei, Renesmae, Roizy, Rosaleigh, Rosaly, Rosebud, Rosette, Rosi, Rossy, Rozena, Sissy, Sofi, Sonni, Sophee, Starlet, Steffie, Tallie, Tamsen, Trellis, Violett, Vivi, Zanna, Zo, Zoei, Abrie, Addi, Ahnna, Aimy, Alisse, Allyce, Amzie, Annlee, Aprille, Arbutus, Avamae, Bloom, Bonnye, Camyla, Caty, Charie, Cloee, Daysy, Deysy, Dhalia, Didi, Eevie, Ellamae, Ellarae, Emary, Emerlyn, Emie, Emmakate, Everlie, Evvie, Fleur, Floreine, Gabbie, Graciemae, Haidy, Hallee, Hanny, Hazell, Hendy, Hyacinth, Jia, Joelie, Joley, Jonquil, Jossie, Jozi, Juliah, Junnie, Katti, Klair, Leafy, Liller, Ludy, Lulie, Lynnie, Maecy, Maezie, Maizey, Malley, Malva, Maly, Masey, Mazy, Mee, Meily, Narcissus, Nicci, Nolie, Nyellie, Olivine, Orchid, Para, Poppi, Prim, Renesme, Rosaland, Rosealee, Roselie, Roselin, Roselinda, Rosely, Rosene, Sadee, Sadey, Sheyli, Tanny, Tessy, Thuy, Tigerlily, Tulip, Yenny, Avey, Briarrose, Heydy, Jasemine, Jozee, Myli, Rosell, Abbee, Ady, Aidy, Alle, Ammi, Amrie, Annaleese, Annely, Annye, Autumnrose, Ayme, Azalie, Azalya, Azaylea, Azelea, Bessy, Betsi, Blossie, Christna, Chrysanthemum, Cici, Daisee, Daisi, Daissy, Daizee, Daysie, Dayzee, Deicy, Dulcey, Eimmy, Eliz, Ellieann, Elliemay, Ellyce, Emalea, Emmamae, Faline, Flower, Frimmy, Gladiola, Hopie, Jem, Jozy, Ketty, Kitti, Lauralie, Laurrie, Letzy, Lien, Lil, Lile, Lille, Linlee, Lunarose, Maesie, Maicie, Maicy, Mally, Marri, Maty, Mayling, Mei, Meili, Miaa, Mimie, Moni, Nansi, Nel, Pippin, Poppie, Posy, Pretty, Rosealie, Rosealyn, Rosealynn, Roseland, Roselani, Rosmary, Rubyrose, Sady, Stephie, Sunflower, Tippi, Vicy, Vylette, Vyolet, Winni, Zoejane, Zoiee
Brothers: Leo, Henry, Owen, Miles, Jasper, Alec, Beau, Ben, Cole, Evan, Freddie, Gavin, Jess, Max, Oscar, Tommy, Will, Aarin, Aden, Benny, Berry, Bo, Cal, Chas, Clint, Dannie, Drake, Ed, Ely, Ever, Freddy, Gardner, Garfield, Golden, Hanson, Isa, Jaxsen, Jessee, Little, Lyam, Marshal, Mitch, Perry, Reggie, Richie, Robb, Robby, Roby, Rony, Rudy, Russel, Sammy, Alen, Cam, Chan, Coley, Cris, Dany, Edin, Franky, Green, Haydn, Henery, Hosie, Jin, Joby, Joell, Johney, Jonny, Kaidyn, Maxon, Micky, Mikey, Mylo, Nikko, Rafe, Wesly, Willy, Zac, Zach, Abie, Ade, Aeden, Aedyn, Aidon, Benjie, Bransen, Charls, Christop, Cobe, Connar, Dom, Edi, Edy, Emit, Gabryel, Glade, Grahm, Hadyn, Hardie, Iven, Jak, Jedd, Jessey, Jj, Joesiah, Josha, Kaileb, Mat, Moody, Olie, Orange, Orry, Ostin, Pasco, Phill, Rj, Rolly, Rozell, Sully, Symon, Timm, Tonny, Vivan, Wil, Winson, Zacary, Abron, Alic, Arrick, Beni, Benji, Benjy, Benn, Caillou, Calyx, Ethin, Fredis, Fynn, Gavan, Janssen, Jasn, Jaxxson, Kayl, Kj, Kongmeng, Lj, Maycol, Mikie, Nathin, Oaks, Ollivander, Owin, Pj, Royer, Samwise, Tobby, Wessley, Emrik, Garrit, Aison, Benett, Bilbo, Bruk, Cace, Chin, Dahl, Dover, Ej, Ell, Exander, Freddi, Greene, Han, Harvy, Hershey, Hoss, Iaan, Irbin, Jamas, Jas, Jaxzen, Jeiden, Jery, Jony, Jyden, Lanson, Macky, Markes, Math, Oli, Olly, Roey, Rogen, Seith, Tommey, Weber, Wyat, Wyett, Zylin
Names like Lily
Names whose popularity has moved with Lily's over the last 50 years.
