Lillian Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Lillian is predominantly used for girls. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Lillian?
Lillian is spelled L-I-L-L-I-A-N. The name has 7 letters.
Lillian at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for girls
- Meaning
- Lillian is derived from the Latin name Lilium, meaning “lily”, a type of flowering plant.
- Origin
- Lillian may derive from Lily, which itself comes from the Latin word for the lily flower.
- Pronunciation
- LIL-ee-uhn · 3 syllables
Lillian Popularity in 2025
Rank#57
Recorded Births3,966
- Girls usage fell 3 places to #57 and recorded 73 more 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 Lillian Mean?
Lillian is derived from the Latin name Lilium, meaning “lily”, a type of flowering plant.
Origin: Lillian may derive from Lily, which itself comes from the Latin word for the lily flower.
How Do You Pronounce Lillian?
PronunciationLIL-ee-uhn
Syllables3
What Is the History of the Name Lillian?
- History
- The name Lillian has been used in English-speaking countries since at least the 19th century and appears in Victorian and Edwardian naming records.
Lillian Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2009 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 3,966 | #57 |
| 2024 | Girls | 3,893 | #54 |
| 2023 | Girls | 3,940 | #55 |
| 2022 | Girls | 4,260 | #50 |
| 2021 | Girls | 4,328 | #51 |
| 2020 | Girls | 4,515 | #46 |
| 2020 | Boys | 5 | #12,022 |
| 2019 | Girls | 5,127 | #37 |
| 2018 | Girls | 5,567 | #34 |
| 2017 | Girls | 6,181 | #27 |
| 2017 | Boys | 7 | #9,696 |
| 2016 | Girls | 6,386 | #28 |
| 2016 | Boys | 10 | #7,605 |
| 2015 | Girls | 6,628 | #26 |
| 2015 | Boys | 5 | #12,086 |
| 2014 | Girls | 6,924 | #25 |
| 2013 | Girls | 7,085 | #26 |
| 2013 | Boys | 5 | #12,136 |
| 2012 | Girls | 7,171 | #25 |
| 2012 | Boys | 5 | #12,274 |
| 2011 | Girls | 6,934 | #22 |
| 2011 | Boys | 9 | #8,079 |
| 2010 | Girls | 6,957 | #22 |
| 2009 | Girls | 6,861 | #27 |
When Was Lillian 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.
1920 · Girls
10,049 recorded births
National rank #18
1918 · Girls
9,986 recorded births
National rank #15
1917 · Girls
9,843 recorded births
National rank #15
1921 · Girls
9,770 recorded births
National rank #19
Where Lillian 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 |
|---|---|---|
| ME | #15 | 32 |
| SC | #18 | 95 |
| WV | #21 | 39 |
| VT | #21 | 12 |
| ND | #23 | 21 |
| MO | #26 | 117 |
| AL | #26 | 88 |
| LA | #29 | 73 |