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Lil
How to Pronounce Lil
Pronounced LIL /ΛlΙͺl/Medium
Meaning: Lil is a clipped pet form of Lillian or Lily. Lily is the flower name, from the Latin lilium, long a symbol of purity and innocence; Lillian is usually explained as an elaboration of Lily or a form linked to Elizabeth. Lil carries the flower's gentle meaning in a single syllable.Low
Popularity in the U.S. Β· SSA data
U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880βpresent). Pink marker = peak year.
SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.
History & Origin
Lil is the short form of Lillian and Lily, given now and then as a name in its own right. Its meaning flows from Lily, the flower from Latin lilium that has stood for purity for centuries. As a stand-alone first name Lil belongs to the old habit of registering a pet form on the birth certificate.
Lil was never common as a formal name, given to only about fourteen girls a year at its mid-century peak and to barely more than a hundred over a long, thin run. With the broad revival of Lily and Lillian, a soft, vintage Lil is easy to imagine coming along for the ride, though it remains firmly a nickname at heart.
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Frequently Asked
What does the name Lil mean?
It is a short form of Lillian or Lily; Lily is the flower name from Latin lilium, a symbol of purity.
How do you pronounce Lil?
It is said LIL /ΛlΙͺl/ - just one syllable.
Is Lil a boy or girl name?
Lil is used here as a girl's name.
How popular is Lil?
It was always rare as a formal name, with a quiet mid-century peak, usually seen as a nickname for Lily or Lillian.