Lilian
English, a form of Lillian, which is usually explained as an elaboration of Lily, the flower name from Latin lilium, though a link to Elizabeth has also been proposed.
Lilian in 2025
Lilian was given to 537 babies in the United States in 2025, making it the 1,114th most popular name of the year. That is roughly one in every 6,174 babies born.
The history of Lilian
Lilian reached its highest point in 2007, when 786 babies were given the name, ranking 807th that year. Its best-ever ranking was 706th, in 1895.
Across the 146 years of records since 1880, 20,470 babies have been named Lilian. Half of them were born before 2008, which places the name's centre of gravity with Generation Z.
Lilian by decade
| Decade | Babies named Lilian | Best rank |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 213 | 725 |
| 1890s | 280 | 706 |
| 1900s | 282 | 853 |
| 1910s | 637 | 1,220 |
| 1920s | 453 | 1,507 |
| 1930s | 173 | 2,472 |
| 1940s | 154 | 3,279 |
| 1950s | 190 | 3,356 |
| 1960s | 315 | 2,879 |
| 1970s | 475 | 2,535 |
| 1980s | 717 | 2,322 |
| 1990s | 1,817 | 1,452 |
| 2000s | 5,783 | 807 |
| 2010s | 5,935 | 870 |
| 2020s | 3,046 | 1,096 |
Where Lilian is heading
Lilian has fallen 16% over the past decade, from 641 babies in 2015 to 537 in 2025.
Names like Lilian
Names that rose and fell at the same time as Lilian.