The baby name Lillian combines nature name appeal with a restrained, sophisticated style.
Our Baby Name of the Day comes from Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk.
WHAT DOES THE NAME LILLIAN MEAN?
On paper, Lillian means lily.
The Latin word for flower is lilium.
The flowers have long been considered a symbol of purity, modesty, and also remembrance.
In Greek mythology, they’re tied to the goddess Hera. Christians associate lilies with the Virgin Mary.
They’re painted by artists, described in poems, and featured in gardens and bouquets across time and place.
But there’s more to the baby name Lillian, because there’s not necessarily a straight line from the flower to the name.
LILY, ELIZABETH, LILLIAN
Biblical girls’ names Isabella and Elizabeth both trace their roots the Hebrew Elisheva, meaning “my God is an oath.” Elisabet is the Greek form of Elisheva. Isabel developed, likely in Spain. Initially, the English-speaking world used Isabel, too.
But then came the first Queen Elizabeth, crowned in 1558. England adopted Elizabeth, and it’s been steadily used and quiet popular ever since.
Dozens and dozens of Elizabeth nicknames evolved. Chances are you’ve heard some of them, from the vintage charm of Bess to variations like Libby and Elle.
Another one? Almost certainly Lily.
The late Queen Elizabeth II famously answered to Lilibet as a child. One of her great-granddaughter is now named Lilibet in her memory.
And Lillian? We treat it as a formal name for Lily. But chances are the opposite is true. Elizabeth shortened to Lily and then transformed once more, to the baby name Lillian.
LOTS OF LILYS
The lily flower might’ve inspired children’s names, even without the Elizabeth connection.
After all, Victorians embraced names like Violet and Daisy. Lily would’ve fit right in.
But other Lily names predate Elizabeth. Some traditions hold that the first man, Adam, had a wife before Eve. Her name? Lilith, from an Akkadian word meaning night.
It might also come from names with a strong LIL or even LI sound – Caroline, Cecilia, Amelia, Olivia. It’s a stretch for twenty-first century nicknames, but in other cultures and languages would’ve been perfectly familiar.
Speaking of other languages, names like Lilia, Liliana, Lilja, Lilian, Liliane and more Lily names are heard.
FAMOUS LILLIANS
Some Lilys are just Lily. Or maybe something else entirely.
Edith Wharton’s 1905 novel The House of Mirth gave us the perfect turn of the 20th century figure, Lily Bart. Born into a life of privilege and elegance, Miss Bart is in need of a husband with a reasonable fortune. When she fails to marry well, things slowly fall apart. She’s beautiful but headstrong, impoverished but choosy. And she’s – as far as the novel reveals – Lily, not Elizabeth or Lillian.
Famous women and fictional characters by the name include:
- Author and playwright Lillian Hellman.
- American actress Lillian Gish’s film career spanned, incredibly, the 1910s to the 1980s.
- Lily Tomlin was born Mary Jean Tomlin.
- Hannah Montana’s Lilly Truscott was a Lillian. (And sometimes a Lola.)
- On Gossip Girl, Serena van der Woodsen’s mother is another Lillian-called-Lily.
As an English name, it’s a little hard to hear the link between Lily and Elizabeth today. The idea that Lily developed as a nickname for the first name Lillian is strong.
HOW POPULAR IS THE NAME LILLIAN?
Looking at the popularity data, the baby name Lillian has never left the rankings.
As of 2023, the baby name Lily ranks #20 in the US. The baby name Lillian follows at #55.
Liliana, Lilith, Lilly, Lilliana, Lilian, Lillie, Lilianna, Lilyana, and Lilia all appear in the current US Top 1000, too.
While some of these spellings look like a blend of Lily and Ann, others seem to be elaborations or romance language forms of Lillian.
Circa 1880, though, when data is first reported, Lillian outranked all of the Lil- names with Lillie following closely behind. Names like Lillis and Lilla also appeared in the US Top 1000 duirng the late 19th century.
The baby name Lillian ranked in the US Top Ten at the turn of the 20th century, and appeared in the Top 25 into the 1920s.
Lillie remained the prefered spelling for the nickname, with Lilly and Lily trailing, for generations.
LILLIAN BOXFISH
Fans of the Kathleen Rooney novel Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk can attest that the name sums up all of these qualities. It’s sophisticated and creative, timeless and nicely current.
Lillian Boxfish, an accomplished, fiercely indepedent, and (still) quick-witted woman in her 80s, goes for a long walk in Manhattan on New Year’s Eve in 1984. The story is a love letter to the city of New York, twentieth century advertising, and being yourself come what may.
It’s a favorite New Year’s re-read for many.
BEAUTIFUL AND STRONG
In the 2020s, Lily is broadly accepted as an independent name, or a nickname for the baby name Lillian.
Lillian offers a little bit of extra sound and maybe even substance. It’s less flower name, more restrained grace – an alternative to Evelyn.
Many Lily names have fared well in recent years. But there’s something buttoned-up and enduring about Lillian. It’s a sister for Katherine and Claire, rather than Scarlett or Chloe. It’s in step with recent trends, but a touch more traditional.
If you’re looking for a beautiful name with strength and history, Lillian might be the right choice for your family.
Susannah means “lily.” I also like the name Calla, which is a type of lily.