With its gentle sound and the image of a pure flower, the name Lily has captivated many parents. As the world develops, many new names appear. However, Lily is still a favorite elegant female name that never goes out of style.
So what makes this name so popular? Let’s make the process of naming your daughter more meaningful with BabiesParent by learning about Lily name meaning and popularity!
Lily Name Meaning and Origin
Lily – a name that evokes an image of elegance and purity. But do you know that behind that beauty lies a mystery about its origin and meaning?
Lily Name Origin
The name Lily has a well-known root, the Latin word Lilium, which means “lily.”
In addition, this feminine name is also believed to have originated from the ancient Greek Λείριον (Leirion). Λείριον refers to a flower that grew when the goddess Hera’s breast milk accidentally fell to the ground while she was nursing Hercules.
In addition, although not mentioned much in the Bible verses, Lily represents the virginity of Mary, the mother of Jesus. Saint Joseph also used this flower to represent the purity of his relationship with Mary.
Lily Name Meaning
Because it is derived from the lily flower, the Lily name meaning also carries the beauty of that flower itself. People named Lily are often described as having a pure soul, noble qualities, and pure beauty. This name also symbolizes modesty, kindness, and goodness.
Despite its gentle beauty, lilies can still thrive in all living conditions. Therefore, the name Lily also implies the strong and resilient vitality of a little girl.
In addition, thanks to its Λείριον origin, the name Lily also symbolizes sacred maternal love. Parents giving this name to their daughter means that the little princess will be raised in boundless love.
Popularity of Lily Name
Due to her royal origin and its lovely meaning, Lily has become a favorite among many parents. This is always found on the Social Security Administration‘s 1000 most popular baby names list.
The name Lily is on the list as far back as 1900 and never dropped out of this very list, signifying eternal beauty. It stayed within the top 50 during the last 19 years (according to the most recent statistics in 2023) and promises to keep this in the future.
Lily reached its highest rank in 2011 at 15th place. Also in the said year, this name usage by “little princesses” Lily adds up to 8192, covering 0.423% of all newborn babies. Another interesting fact you may not know is that, in 2023, a full 6146 parents named their daughters Lily, accounting for 0.351% of the total female births.
It has spread across many cultures, becoming a member of the most beloved name collection. From country Western girl names to black girl names, Lily has always proven its undeniable appeal.
Famous People with The Name Lily
With such popularity, it is not surprising that many famous people choose this name. Let’s take a look at some famous people named Lily!
Lili (Lilibet) Mountbatten-Windsor
One of the famous people named Lily is little princess Lilibet. Princess Lilibet “Lili” Diana Mountbatten-Windsor is the second-born daughter to Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex. She was born on 4 June 2021 in California, USA.
The name of the princess is unique because it unites Lilibet, a nickname from childhood belonging to Queen Elizabeth II, with Diana, in memory of Princess Diana, Prince Harry’s mother. That means the name Lilibet represents her strong relation to the British royal family, mostly with her great-grandmother and grandmother.
The other special thing is that this little girl also has a birthday which falls on the exact date as her grandmother, Princess Diana.
Lily Collins
Model and actress Lily Collins is a well-known British-American. She is known to the public through many roles in movies and television. Lily Collins is the daughter of rock superstar Phil Collins, so her artistic blood has greatly influenced her career.
Lily started her acting career very early and has participated in many film projects. Some of her notable films include The Blind Side, Mirror Mirror, and Emily in Paris. In addition to acting, Lily Collins is also an author. She has written a memoir sharing about her life and experiences.
Lily Allen
Music lovers can never miss the name Lily Allen, the Queen of Pop in terms of rebellion and self-identity. Her real name is Lily Rose Beatrice Cooper, a British singer and songwriter famous for her manner of performance music.
Lily Allen began her music career by sharing demos on MySpace in 2005. Her debut album “Alright, Still” released in 2006 brought Lily Allen to stardom. The hit tracks like “LDN,” “Smile,” and “Littlest Things” have torn up the charts.
Lily James
Lily James, the British screen princess, leaves a deep impression on the audience through her sweet beauty, multifaceted acting talent, and skillful transformations into many different characters. Having shown her presence previously in films such as Cinderella, then lately Downton Abbey, the very recent being Pam & Tommy.
In 2015, Lily James had a big turning point in her career when she played the main role in Disney’s live-action Cinderella. After the success of Cinderella, Lily James continued to affirm her talent through many different films. With talent, beauty, and constant efforts, Lily James promises to achieve even more success in her acting career.
Lily Rabe
Lily Rabe is an American actress, best known for her role in the popular horror series American Horror Story. She is the daughter of actress Jill Clayburgh and playwright David Rabe and was raised in a family with a strong artistic tradition. Lily Rabe initiated her acting career on Broadway.
She won several different awards and received award nominations for her work. After her success on stage, Lily Rabe started to involve herself in film projects. Lily Rabe has demonstrated her versatile acting ability through each role in American Horror Story. She can act comedy, horror, and tragedy excellently.
Similar Name to Lily
After understanding Lily name meaning, origin, and popularity as well as famous people with this name, Babies Parent will bring you similar names to Lily:
- Lila: Lila is considered to come from the Persian word “Lilak” which means lavender. The name means “purple” in Hindi, which is also reminiscent of lavender. Lila is another variation of Lily, which has a similar name and also has a meaning related to the flower. The name exudes a gentle, calm beauty like the purple color of lavender.
- Lilian: Lilian is another variation of the name Lily. This is both a name and a nickname for extremely adorable girls. Lilian also has a similar meaning to Lily name meaning, representing purity and innocence.
- Lilah: If you love Lily, you will definitely love Lilah. This is a name that has a gentle and sweet tone like the name Lily. Lilah comes from Hebrew, meaning “night” or “sea”. Whatever the meaning, Lilah describes a girl whose soul is as calm as the night sky and as vast and free as the sea.
- Jasmine: A similar name to Lily and also associated with a flower is Jasmine. Yasmin, a Persian word meaning “gift from God,” is where the name Jasmine originates. It also means jasmine flower. Both meanings are beautiful and sacred. Jasmine implies that the little girl is like a precious gift from God and is as pure and beautiful as the jasmine flower.
- Rose: When it comes to beautiful flowers, roses are indispensable. Rose is also a feminine name with a beautiful meaning like Lily. The rose symbolizes strong love and charming beauty. Therefore, the name Rose also implies that our little princess will always be beautiful and full of love.
- Aurora: Another suggestion you can refer to is Aurora. This name refers to the beautiful goddess Aurora in Greek mythology, and also means “dawn”. This name implies that the girl’s life will always be bright, full of hope like the dawn, and beautiful like the goddess Aurora.
- Marie: If you are looking for something pure and innocent in meaning, Marie is your name. It is one of the classic names that are sophisticated and appealing. In fact, it is a biblical appellation, which means “the respected Mary”—a virtuous woman who was loved by God.
Yes. In Japan, lilies are considered a symbol of luck and happiness. The Chinese also believe that lilies bring good luck in feng shui. They also use lilies in wedding ceremonies to symbolize that the couple will be forever united in love.
You can refer to some lovely nicknames such as Lil, Lee, or Lilybug. These names will add fun and loveliness to your beloved daughter.
Actually, the Bible does not explicitly state the Lily name meaning. However, Lily represents the lily, the flower that symbolizes Mary’s virginity. This flower also symbolizes the pure relationship between Saint Joseph and Mary, the parents of Jesus.
Final Thought
So we have completed the journey of discovering Lily name meaning together. From its mythical origin to its profound meaning, Lily always brings a pure and attractive beauty. Over the years, the name Lily still retains its appeal. That is a clear proof of the power of names with beautiful meanings.
Hopefully, the interesting information that BabiesParent brings will be useful for the process of naming your little flower. Goodbye, beautiful Lily!
