Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Lily
GirlEnglish, Latin· “lily flower”
- Meaning
- lily flower
- Origin
- English, Latin
- Pronunciation
- LIH-lee
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #18
- US babies 2025
- 6,673
- Best rank
- #15 (2011)
- Peak year
- 2011
Meaning and origin of Lily
Lily is an English and Latin name that means “lily flower”.
Lily comes from the name of the flower, from the Latin lilium. In Christian art the white lily symbolizes purity and often appears with the Virgin Mary, which made it a favorite among Victorian parents who loved flower names. It was also used as a nickname for Elizabeth and Lillian. Lily Bart, the heroine of Edith Wharton's novel The House of Mirth, gave it a literary presence. After a long quiet period, Lily came back strongly in recent decades as parents rediscovered vintage floral names. It sounds sweet, light and fresh. Lillie and Lilly are variant spellings.
Other spellings with the same sound: Lillie, Lilly, Lili, Lilli, Lilley.
Popularity over time
Lily has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 135 different years. Its best national rank was #15 in 2011, the same year it reached its highest count of 8,192 babies. In 2025, 6,673 babies were named Lily, and it ranked #18 nationally. Its use has been fairly steady over the past decade.
Its national rank moved from #331 in 1920, #741 in 1950, #836 in 1980, #124 in 2000, #17 in 2010, and #18 in 2025. Of the 189,644 US girls named Lily since records began, 36% were born in the 2010s, its biggest decade. The 2000s come next, with 56,186 babies.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Aubrey, Zoey, Brooklyn, Ella, and Zoe.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Lily ranked highest in Utah, Connecticut, and Hawaii.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Utah | #10 | 129 |
| Connecticut | #11 | 92 |
| Hawaii | #12 | 27 |
| Washington | #13 | 175 |
| District of Columbia | #13 | 25 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Lily is usually pronounced LIH-lee, with two syllables. It has four letters, starts with L and ends in “-ly”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Lillie, Lilly, Lili, and Lilli.
Middle names for Lily
A few middle names that flow with Lily: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Lily
Similar names
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EH-muh-lee
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PRIHM-rohz
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NOR-uh
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Violet Girl
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STEL-uh
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Autumn Girl
AW-tuhm
“autumn season” · English
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Molly Girl
MAH-lee
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Blakely Girl
BLAYK-lee
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Lists that include Lily
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Lily mean?
Lily is an English and Latin name that means “lily flower”.
What is the origin of the name Lily?
Lily has English and Latin roots. Lily comes from the name of the flower, from the Latin lilium.
Is Lily a popular name?
Yes. Lily ranked #18 in the US in 2025, which makes it one of the 100 most popular names.
Is Lily a boy or girl name?
Lily is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Lily?
Lily is usually pronounced LIH-lee. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings