Given name & surname
Lilly
“God is my oath”·“My God is bountiful”·“one who is youthful; daughter of the sky”
In English use, Lilly has a related form in Lily. One English interpretation is “resembling the flower; one who is innocent and beautiful.” In English use, Lilly is a diminutive 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 English use, Lilly has a related form in Lily. One English interpretation is “resembling the flower; one who is innocent and beautiful.” In English use, Lilly is a diminutive 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. In Swedish use, Lilly is an affectionate form of Julia. One Latin interpretation is “one who is youthful; daughter of the sky.” In Danish use, Lilly is an affectionate form of Lillian. One Latin interpretation is “resembling the lily.” In Danish use, Lilly is an affectionate form of Elisabeth. One interpretation is “God is my oath.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
In English use, Lilly has a related form in Lily. An origin associated with Lily is English. In English use, Lilly is a diminutive 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. In Swedish use, Lilly is an affectionate form of Julia. An origin associated with Julia is Latin.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
In English usage, Lilly is a diminutive of Elizabeth. In Swedish usage, Lilly is an affectionate form of Julia. In English use, Lilly is a diminutive 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 1880. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. In English use, Lilly is a diminutive 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. In Swedish use, Lilly is an affectionate form of Julia. The history of Julia gives this family its wider story. Julia’s historical associations include numerous early saints.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Lilly through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 66,752
- 24 boys · 66,728 girls
- Most popular year
- 2010
- 2,891 babies
- 2025
- 1,218
- #252 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −28%
- Easing
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 1,218 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 252 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 27.7% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 2,891 in 2010. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (109). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 54,556 as a first name in 2020; 21,065 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.
Lilly’s family of names
In English usage, Lilly is a diminutive of Elizabeth. In English usage, Lilly has a related form in Lily. In Swedish usage, Lilly is an affectionate form of Julia.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Lilly has relatives in 6 languages.
13 related names in 6 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 14
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 3
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.
See also 5
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Lilly
- Lilly SinghCanadian YouTube personality, vlogger and comedianborn 1988
- Lilly ReichGerman designer (1885–1947)
- Lilly PlattBritish environmentalistborn 2008
- Lilly Scholzfigure skater (1903–1994)
- Lilly SteinschneiderAustro-Hungarian aviator1891–1975
- Lilly LedbetterAmerican businesswoman (1938–2024)
- Lilly BecherGerman writer (1901–1978)
- Lilly WachowskiPolish-American film directorborn 1967
- Lilly WustRecipient of the federal Cross of Merit (1913–2006)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Appears in
Similar names
If you love Lilly, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Elise
“my God is bountiful” · “God is my oath”
>99% girls
Leana
“of the palm tree” · “the shining light”
>99% girls
Elisa
“my God is bountiful” · “God is my oath”
>99% girls
Isabel
“my God is bountiful” · “a giving woran”
>99% girls
Sadie
“princess; lady” · “princess”
>99% girls
Zara
“princess”
>99% girls
Isabelle
“my God is bountiful” · “God is my oath”
>99% girls
Kinsli
“from the king 's meadow” · “from the king's meadow”
>99% girls