Lilian Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Lilian is predominantly used for girls. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Lilian?
Lilian is spelled L-I-L-I-A-N. The name has 6 letters.
Lilian at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for girls
- Meaning
- Lilian is commonly understood to mean “lily”, referring to the flower.
- Origin
- Lilian is generally considered to be derived from the Latin word “lilium”, meaning lily. It is used primarily in English-speaking countries.
- Pronunciation
- LIL-ee-uhn · 3 syllables
Lilian Popularity in 2025
Rank#560
Recorded Births537
- Girls usage fell 3 places to #560 and recorded 7 fewer births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Lilian Mean?
Lilian is commonly understood to mean “lily”, referring to the flower.
Origin: Lilian is generally considered to be derived from the Latin word “lilium”, meaning lily. It is used primarily in English-speaking countries.
How Do You Pronounce Lilian?
PronunciationLIL-ee-uhn
Syllables3
What Is the History of the Name Lilian?
- History
- Lilian has appeared in English literature and records from the 19th century onward, reflecting its use as a feminine personal name.
Lilian Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2002 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 537 | #560 |
| 2024 | Girls | 544 | #557 |
| 2023 | Girls | 543 | #558 |
| 2022 | Girls | 519 | #576 |
| 2021 | Girls | 464 | #639 |
| 2020 | Girls | 439 | #656 |
| 2019 | Girls | 502 | #601 |
| 2018 | Girls | 494 | #612 |
| 2017 | Girls | 508 | #588 |
| 2016 | Girls | 560 | #557 |
| 2015 | Girls | 641 | #497 |
| 2014 | Girls | 622 | #502 |
| 2013 | Girls | 605 | #495 |
| 2012 | Girls | 676 | #462 |
| 2011 | Girls | 645 | #462 |
| 2010 | Girls | 682 | #452 |
| 2009 | Girls | 728 | #436 |
| 2008 | Girls | 730 | #435 |
| 2007 | Girls | 786 | #416 |
| 2006 | Girls | 724 | #441 |
| 2005 | Girls | 650 | #474 |
| 2004 | Girls | 541 | #526 |
| 2003 | Girls | 497 | #556 |
| 2002 | Girls | 440 | #587 |
When Was Lilian Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
2007 · Girls
786 recorded births
National rank #416
2008 · Girls
730 recorded births
National rank #435
2009 · Girls
728 recorded births
National rank #436
2006 · Girls
724 recorded births
National rank #441
Where Lilian Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Girls
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| HI | #168 | 5 |
| NH | #236 | 5 |
| NE | #335 | 6 |
| IL | #363 | 28 |
| CO | #406 | 14 |
| AZ | #416 | 16 |
| CA | #442 | 75 |
| NC | #442 | 25 |