Lillian
Probably an elaboration of Lily, the flower name from Latin lilium, though some trace it instead to medieval pet forms of Elizabeth.
Lillian in 2025
Lillian was given to 3,966 babies in the United States in 2025, making it the 144th most popular name of the year. That is roughly one in every 836 babies born.
The history of Lillian
Lillian reached its highest point in 1920, when 10,075 babies were given the name, ranking 37th that year. Its best-ever ranking was 15th, in 1899.
Across the 146 years of records since 1880, 476,457 babies have been named Lillian. Half of them were born before 1932, which places the name's centre of gravity with the Silent Generation.
Lillian by decade
| Decade | Babies named Lillian | Best rank |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 11,308 | 37 |
| 1890s | 24,210 | 15 |
| 1900s | 32,646 | 16 |
| 1910s | 76,158 | 20 |
| 1920s | 83,492 | 37 |
| 1930s | 37,616 | 83 |
| 1940s | 22,405 | 181 |
| 1950s | 16,560 | 303 |
| 1960s | 10,663 | 421 |
| 1970s | 5,379 | 602 |
| 1980s | 5,404 | 702 |
| 1990s | 11,242 | 318 |
| 2000s | 49,466 | 97 |
| 2010s | 65,001 | 82 |
| 2020s | 24,907 | 125 |
Where Lillian is heading
Lillian has fallen 40% over the past decade, from 6,633 babies in 2015 to 3,966 in 2025.
Names like Lillian
Names that rose and fell at the same time as Lillian.