Baby Name Popularity Profile

Lillian

Data-driven SSA statistics, rankings, and historical trends for Lillian.

✦ Lily flower 🌍 Latin, English nature traditional
National Rank (2025) #57
All-Time Peak Rank #10 Achieved 1898
Total U.S. Births 475,028 since 1880
Unisex Distribution 0.1% Boy / 99.9% Girl Female Archetype
First Recorded 1880 Last seen: 2025
Peak Decade 1920s 10,049 births in 1920
💡 The Lillian Vibe: Considered a Perennial Favorite. A historic staple that has maintained dominant national popularity for over half a century.

🌍 Meaning & Etymology

Primary Meaning Lily flower
Language Origin Latin, English
Origin Type multiple
Derived from the Latin word *lilium* meaning 'lily'. It also developed as a diminutive of Elizabeth and became popular in English-speaking countries.
Common Nicknames
Lily Lil
Alternative Spellings
Lilian
Pronunciation: LIL-ee-an
Themes & Categories
nature traditional
Etymology confidence: High

📖 The Story Behind Lillian

According to SSA data, Lillian achieved its highest historical rank of #10 in 1898. Its highest annual registration volume occurred in 1920 with 10,049 babies. Between 2015 and 2025, modern registrations have decreased by 40.2%. Overall, the name has maintained a ranked presence for 146 consecutive years.

📊 Factual Timeline & Current Trajectory (1880 – 2025)

Registration footprint of Lillian across 145 years of SSA data.

5-Year Trajectory Declining
10-Year Shift -40.2% Decline
18801920196020002025

📈 Popularity Milestones & Volatility

Busiest Year on Record 10,049 births in 1920
Years in Top 100 85 yrs
Years in Top 500 146 yrs
Registry Streak 146 yrs
Historical Volatility Moderately Volatile
Largest 1-Year Jump N/A
Decade-by-Decade Registration Volumes
1880s: 11,270
1890s: 24,106
1900s: 32,519
1910s: 75,914
1920s: 83,160
1930s: 37,391
1940s: 22,315
1950s: 16,509
1960s: 10,606
1970s: 5,364
1980s: 5,390
1990s: 11,229
2000s: 49,393
2010s: 64,960
2020s: 24,902

📐 Sound & Spelling Structure

Phonetic Syllables Lil-li-an
Letter Count 7 letters
Spelling Complexity Moderate
Length Percentile Longer than 54.1% of names
Linguistic Profile: Longer than 54.1% of SSA names. Starts with L, a letter used by only 5.7% of SSA names.

🛠️ Sibling & Surname Cadence Tool

Enter a surname or sibling name to test how it pairs with Lillian.

📍 Authentic State & Regional Rankings

Highest Ranking State Rhode Island
Top States Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Maine
States with Data 51
State 2025 Rank Total Births Peak Year 5-Yr Velocity
Rhode Island #83 2,459 1923 Insufficient historical volume
Vermont #25 1,137 1923 Insufficient historical volume
New Hampshire #40 2,049 1920 14.3% Decline
North Dakota #24 2,172 1916 Insufficient historical volume
Maine #15 2,763 1921 5.9% Decline
Massachusetts #55 14,623 1918 18.6% Decline
Hawaii #110 1,728 1934 Insufficient historical volume
New York #97 42,524 1915 28.5% Decline
Kentucky #40 9,410 1920 21.3% Decline
West Virginia #21 4,970 1918 +8.3% Growth
Virginia #43 12,076 1922 22.6% Decline
Connecticut #52 5,791 1917 3.9% Decline
South Carolina #19 7,565 1923 +10.5% Growth
Maryland #50 7,580 1923 5.6% Decline
South Dakota #79 1,682 1917 Insufficient historical volume
North Carolina #33 14,198 1924 +14.4% Growth
Montana #57 1,488 1918 Insufficient historical volume
Alaska #37 665 2012 Insufficient historical volume
Alabama #27 8,737 1920 6.4% Decline
Pennsylvania #45 25,187 1918 5.0% Decline
Tennessee #32 9,960 1920 +11.6% Growth
Mississippi #36 5,913 1919 16.7% Decline
New Jersey #77 12,710 1918 1.1% Decline
Louisiana #30 8,237 1919 13.1% Decline
Georgia #63 12,753 1923 12.5% Decline
Delaware #40 926 2012 Insufficient historical volume
Arkansas #58 4,825 1921 13.0% Decline
Missouri #27 9,669 2008 1.7% Decline
Illinois #52 20,799 1916 24.5% Decline
Minnesota #35 7,699 1916 8.1% Decline
Nebraska #43 2,955 1917 21.4% Decline
Ohio #30 18,491 2010 21.4% Decline
Michigan #36 15,074 1926 18.9% Decline
Indiana #38 9,386 2008 22.5% Decline
Oklahoma #53 5,309 1918 10.5% Decline
Wisconsin #32 7,701 1917 9.7% Decline
District of Columbia #47 1,674 1921 Insufficient historical volume
Colorado #57 4,376 2014 3.6% Decline
Wyoming Unranked 483 2010 Insufficient historical volume
Washington #70 5,640 2009 22.1% Decline
Iowa #38 4,575 1917 18.2% Decline
Oregon #56 3,102 2008 14.5% Decline
Idaho #96 1,349 2009 Insufficient historical volume
Kansas #63 3,558 2010 28.1% Decline
New Mexico #139 1,709 1953 Insufficient historical volume
Florida #83 10,373 2015 4.5% Decline
Arizona #80 3,450 2013 +6.1% Growth
Texas #85 21,512 2013 5.5% Decline
Utah #147 2,292 2016 26.2% Decline
Nevada #67 891 2014 +20.0% Growth
California #152 18,981 2014 25.9% Decline

👨‍👩‍👧 Sibling Name Suggestions

👦 Brother Suggestions
Arthur George Calvin Jack Florian Gaetano Willian Gennaro Camillo Bartolo
👧 Sister Suggestions
Eleanor Evelyn Vivian Margaret Alice Ruby Mary June Dorothy Estella

🔗 Names You Might Also Like

Based on statistical similarity and shared characteristics with Lillian:

Demographic & Volume Peers
Lorean Lakelyn Liliann Loriann Lyllian Lorrain Lisaann Leilani Lakelynn Lavinia
More nature Names
Browse all nature names → Browse Latin names →

🗂️ Browse More Baby Names

Explore our name indexes and data tracks:

👧 Top Girl Names → 3-Syllable Names → 7-Letter Names → More Perennial Favorite Names → Latin Origin Names → nature Names → Names Peaking in 1920 → 🗺️ Regional State Data →