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Lilly

♀ Girl

Pronounced LIL-ee /ˈlɪli/High

Meaning: Lily flower; symbol of purity and innocenceHigh

In 30 seconds: A sparkling variant of Lily, the classic English flower name evoking purity and grace. Lilly with a double-l has a particularly soft, friendly energy — sweet and timeless in equal measure.
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Origin HighEnglish, Latin
MeaningLily flower; symbol of purity and innocence
U.S. rank (2025)#252 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births1,218 girls (0.07% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2010
Total births (all-time)≈ 66,693

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 201018802025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Lilly is an alternate spelling of Lily, the English flower name derived from the Latin lilium and Greek leirion. Lilies have been cultivated for at least 3,000 years and appear throughout the Bible and classical literature as symbols of purity and divine favour. Elizabeth I of England was called the 'Tudor Rose,' while the lily was associated with the purity of the Virgin Mary.

Lily and its variants including Lilly, Lillie, and Lili have been popular given names in the English-speaking world since the Victorian era. The double-l spelling Lilly offers a slightly softer, friendlier visual than the botanical spelling Lily, and both forms rank in the U.S. top 100 for girls.

Did you know? The lily has been a symbol of purity, majesty, and the Virgin Mary in Christianity since the early church — making Lily and its variants among the most symbolically loaded of all flower names.
Overall data confidence 95%
Behind the Name — Lily — root form etymologyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

LilyLillieLiliLiliana

Nicknames

LilLils

Famous Bearers

  • ★Lily Tomlin (1939–present)
    American actress and comedian, one of the most celebrated comic performers of her generation.

If you like Lilly…

Lily— the standard botanical spelling of the identical floral name
Violet— Victorian flower name with the same delicate, purity-evoking sweetness
Daisy— cheerful flower name in the same English botanical tradition
Rosie— warm floral nickname name with the same cheerful, friendly energy

Frequently Asked

What does the name Lilly mean?

Lilly is a variant of Lily, the English flower name from Latin lilium, symbolising purity and innocence.

How do you pronounce Lilly?

It is said LIL-ee /ˈlɪli/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Lilly a boy or girl name?

Lilly is used almost exclusively as a girls' name.

How popular is Lilly?

Lilly ranks in the U.S. top 100 for girls, close to its sibling spelling Lily.