Lilian
Used since the sixteenth century, possibly originally a pet form of Elizabeth, but generally accepted as a variant of Late Latin lilium (“lily”).
Every Lilian since 1880 — 20,470 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Lilian
Lilian is uncommon for girls in the United States, ranked #560 in 2025 with 537 babies given the name. It is currently holding steady compared with a decade ago.
Since 1880, 20,470 American babies have been named Lilian. Its peak came in 2007, when 786 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 2000s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Lilian stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Lilian year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 537 | #560 |
| 2024 | 544 | #558 |
| 2023 | 543 | #558 |
| 2022 | 519 | #577 |
| 2021 | 464 | #639 |
| 2020 | 439 | #656 |
| 2019 | 502 | #603 |
| 2018 | 494 | #612 |
| 2017 | 508 | #589 |
| 2016 | 560 | #559 |
| 2015 | 641 | #497 |
| 2014 | 622 | #502 |
| 2013 | 605 | #495 |
| 2012 | 676 | #463 |
| 2011 | 645 | #462 |
| 2010 | 682 | #452 |
| 2009 | 728 | #436 |
| 2008 | 730 | #435 |
| 2007 | 786 | #417 |
| 2006 | 724 | #441 |
| 2005 | 650 | #474 |
| 2004 | 541 | #526 |
| 2003 | 497 | #557 |
| 2002 | 440 | #587 |
| 2001 | 359 | #694 |
| 2000 | 328 | #709 |
| 1995 | 151 | #1,154 |
| 1990 | 147 | #1,174 |
| 1985 | 66 | #1,735 |
| 1980 | 53 | #1,994 |
| 1975 | 42 | #2,082 |
| 1970 | 42 | #1,997 |
| 1965 | 30 | #2,186 |
| 1960 | 41 | #1,777 |
| 1955 | 19 | #2,595 |
| 1950 | 15 | #2,724 |
| 1945 | 10 | #3,029 |
| 1940 | 13 | #2,371 |
| 1935 | 14 | #2,254 |
| 1930 | 20 | #1,845 |
| 1925 | 38 | #1,280 |
| 1920 | 81 | #810 |
| 1915 | 75 | #765 |
| 1910 | 33 | #747 |
| 1905 | 28 | #676 |
| 1900 | 30 | #648 |
| 1895 | 42 | #439 |
| 1890 | 21 | #575 |
| 1885 | 22 | #454 |
| 1880 | 19 | #380 |
Famous people named Lilian
- Lilian, Princess of Réthy Companion · 1916–2002
- Lilian Harvey Actor · 1906–1968
- Lilian Jackson Braun Writer · 1913–2011
- Lilian Bond Actor · 1908–1991
- Lilian Garcia Singer · b. 1966
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Lilian mean?
Used since the sixteenth century, possibly originally a pet form of Elizabeth, but generally accepted as a variant of Late Latin lilium (“lily”).
How popular is the name Lilian in 2025?
Lilian ranked #560 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 537 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Lilian?
20,470 babies have been named Lilian in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Lilian most popular?
Lilian peaked in 2007, when 786 newborns received the name.
Is Lilian a boy or girl name?
Lilian is overwhelmingly a girl's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Lilian rising or falling?
Lilian has been roughly stable over the past decade.
Who are famous people named Lilian?
Well-known people named Lilian include Lilian, Princess of Réthy (companion), Lilian Harvey (actor), Lilian Jackson Braun (writer).