The baby name Lilo comes (mostly) from Hawaiian culture by way of all things Disney.
Thanks to Ella for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day.
WHAT DOES THE NAME LILO MEAN?
The first name Lilo means “generous” in Hawaiian.
Or so say reliable name guides.
One dictionary sort of backs this up. Generous translates to lokomaikai; generosity is ka lokomaikai aku. The sounds aren’t a million miles away.
A second dictionary lists lilo with the meaning “to transfer; to be lost; to give absolutely.” There’s a lot there. Lilolilo means “to be liberal and free in giving.”
A guess, then: the baby name Lilo means generous, but it’s not exactly like naming your daughter Bountiful. Or maybe it is. We don’t really use Bountiful in every day speech.
Lately, of course, Hawaiians have influenced many popular names. For boys, there’s Koa and Kai near the top of the list. All those baby girl names ending with -lani owe their popularity to the same roots, including Leilani, Kehlani, and Alani. Though some of these are clearly of Hawaiian origins; others are merely influenced by the styles and sounds.
While some names taking inspiration from the islands trend gender-neutral, Lilo is given exclusively to girls, making this a feminine name, despite the unisex sound.
Speaking of sound: pronounce it like lee plus low.
It’s a teeter-totter of a name, with equal emphasis on both syllables.
LILO & STITCH
The reason we all know the name Lilo?
A Disney film.
2002’s Lilo & Stitch wasa hit. But it was also a departure from movies about princesses and adventures.
Lilo Pelekai is an orphaned Hawaiian girl. She’s being raised by her older sister Nani. Things aren’t going well, and Nani thinks that maybe – just maybe – getting a dog will help her little sister.
So they go to the pound and meet Stitch.
Who isn’t a dog at all.
He looks a little bit like a blue puppy, or maybe more like a koala.
But he’s actually an alien who crash-landed his space ship on Earth. Also called 626, he’s known for his destructive behavior. Stitch is on the lam, being pursued by the space police. Because not only is Stitch an alien, he’s an experiment, created in a lab. He busted out of prison and knows that if he goes back, his situation will be bleak.
So Stitch decides that going home with Lilo and Nani is a good way to evade his would-be captors. It’s rocky, but he and Lilo quickly bond. He becomes a full-fledged member of the Pelekai family – their Ohana.
All ends well.
The movie drew on popular culture, including surfing and the music of Elvis Presley. In turn, it became a significant part of the extended Disney universe.
Sequels followed, as did a Disney Channel series.
Now a live action version is expected in 2025.
GERMAN NICKNAME NAME
It’s also considered a name of German origin.
Lilo can be a short form of Liselotte.
Liselotte comes from Lise, as in Elisabeth. And Lotte is from Charlotte. So Lilo, ultimately, is a nickname for Elisabeth Charlotte. The letters and sounds are there: eLIsabeth charLOtte.
It changes the meaning of Lilo, and potentially makes it more traditional, too. Elisabeth means “my God is an oath” and Charlotte means “free man.”
EVEN MORE ORIGINS
Other sources list the baby name Lilo as Hebrew in origin.
There are many popular choices in Hebrew that draw on the Li sound: Lior, Liel, Lia/Lea, Lio, and Leni. Some sites list Lielo as another form of Lilo or Liel, which might explain the connection. Liel means “my God.”
If it is a separate Hebrew name, the exact origin and meaning are unclear. It might simply be an Elizabeth nickname.
Different languages appreciate the sound, too. The Arabic Layla and Sanskrit Lila are close to Lilo, along with lots of other L/L choices, including the very popular Lily and old school Louise nickname Lula.
In French, Lilou probably owes its resurgence to the 1997 Luc Besson sci fi movie, The Fifth Element. It gave us an alien named Leeloo. But the sound of unique name Leeloo reminded parents of vintage Lily-adjacent name Lilou. Pronounce it like “lee” and “lou” together.
HOW POPULAR IS THE NAME LILO?
The baby name Lilo has never ranked in the US Top 1000.
It debuted in US popularity data way back in 1955.
One possible reason?
Hawaii became the 50th US state in 1959. The 1950s and 60s were good decades for an interest in Hawaiian language and culture.
The baby name Lilo remained very rare until the movie came along. In 2003, nine girls were named Lilo. As of 2023, 44 girls were given the name, according to the SSA data. That’s still very rare.
A NAME OF THE MOMENT
Despite the name’s sparing use, this could be Lilo’s moment. Consider the mix: Lilo has positive connotations; an appealing story that blends current cultural significance with deep tradition; and an entire generation of kids grew up wanted a six-armed alien for a pet – and knowing the name Lilo.
Factor in the compelling sound, a double-L, plus an O ending, and Lilo is a sparky, high-energy name with potential.
What do you think of the baby name Lilo?
