Given name & surname
Lilja
“God is my oath”·“My God is bountiful”
In Finnish use, Lilja is an affectionate form of Elizabeth. “God is my oath” is the etymological interpretation given for Elisabeth, the same name in a different spelling. “My God is bountiful” is another recorded interpretation, but the two should be kept distinct rather than blended into one literal translation.
Meaning & origin
What it means
In Finnish use, Lilja is an affectionate form of Elizabeth. “God is my oath” is the etymological interpretation given for Elisabeth, the same name in a different spelling. “My God is bountiful” is another recorded interpretation, but the two should be kept distinct rather than blended into one literal translation.
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
In Finnish use, Lilja is an affectionate form of Elizabeth. Elizabeth is the usual English spelling of Elisabeth. The related biblical forms connect it with the Hebrew name Elisheba, borne by Aaron’s wife.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
In Finnish usage, Lilja developed from Lilian. In Finnish usage, Lilja is an affectionate form of Elizabeth. In Finnish use, Lilja is an affectionate form of Elizabeth. The shared background comes through Elizabeth: English generally uses Elizabeth with a z, where many European languages retain Elisabeth with an s. Elisabeth is connected with Elisheba; its final element may have been reshaped through association with Hebrew shabbath, “sabbath.”
Combines direct and name-family evidence
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1998. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. In Finnish use, Lilja is an affectionate form of Elizabeth. The history of Elizabeth gives this family its wider story. The New Testament Elisabeth is the mother of John the Baptist. English royal associations include Elizabeth I and, in the twentieth century, Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon and her daughter Elizabeth II. Elizabeth’s familiar forms developed along several paths, including Eliza, Beth, Bess, Betty, Libby and Lizzie.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Lilja through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 272
- 0 boys · 272 girls
- Most popular year
- 2024
- 19 babies
- 2025
- 11
- #9,219 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +7%
- Steady
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 11 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 9,219 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 6.7% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 247 as a first name in 2020; 796 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Lilja’s family of names
In Finnish usage, Lilja has a diminutive in Lilli. In Finnish usage, Lilja developed from the English form Lilian. In Finnish usage, Lilja has a conventional equivalent in the English form Lily.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Lilja has relatives in 3 languages.
4 related names in 3 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 3
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 8
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Lilja
- Lilja Dögg AlfreðsdóttirIcelandic Minister of Education, Science and Culture 2017-born 1973
- Lilja SigurdardottirIcelandic writerborn 1972
- Lilja Nótt ÞórarinsdóttirIcelandic actorborn 1979
- Lilja MósesdóttirIcelandic politicianborn 1961
- Lilja Rafney MagnúsdóttirIcelandic politicianborn 1957
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Lilja, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Zilah
“the shadowed one”
>99% girls
Selah
“to hang”
1% boys · 99% girls
Yaleena
“the shining light”
>99% girls
Amirah
“a princess; one who commands”
>99% girls
Kinzie
“the king's victory” · “the victorious prince”
>99% girls
Zara
“princess”
>99% girls
Katalina
“one who is pure; virginal”
>99% girls
Amira
“a princess; one who commands”
>99% girls