Girl Name · English Origin
Lily
Lily is a girl's name whose meaning is not firmly attested in the historical record. It is a girl's name of English origin, and it is rare in the United States today — outside the SSA top 1,000.
Origin and meaning: English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0). Popularity: US Social Security Administration.
Lily — a girl name from the English tradition — is an uncommon, standout choice. If Lilly is on your shortlist, Lily belongs in the same conversation.
Lily meaning, origin, and usage
Meaning: Lily has a distinctive sound and evolving modern usage.
Origin: English naming roots help connect Lily to related English baby names.
Pronunciation: Baby Name Studio pronounces Lily as L·I·L·Y, with 4 letters and a girl usage profile.
Popularity: According to Baby Name Studio's 2026 tracker, Lily is an uncommon, standout choice in the Rare tier.
Lily variants, nicknames, middle names, and sibling names
- Variants and spelling ideas: Lilya, Lilye, Lilyy.
- Nicknames: Lily works as its own nickname.
- Middle names: Pair Lily with a middle name that balances its short sound; start with the Lily middle name generator.
- Sibling names: Lilly, Lilah, Lilie, Lila, Lili — full picks on the sibling names for Lily guide for a cohesive sibset.
- Similar names: Looking for names that sound like Lily? Browse our names like Lily guide for phonetic-neighbor picks.
- Explore more: use the Baby Name Explorer, name search, AI name generator, and Baby Name Studio homepage.
Frequently asked about Lily
What does the name Lily mean?
Lily has no single meaning that is firmly attested in the historical record. It is used as a girl name in US birth records, and parents usually choose it for its sound rather than a documented meaning.
What is the origin of Lily?
Lily originates in English naming tradition.
How do you pronounce Lily?
Lily has 4 letters and is most commonly stressed on the first syllable.
Is Lily a boy's or girl's name?
Lily is primarily used as a girl's name in US records.
How popular is Lily in 2026?
In our 2026 popularity tracker, Lily sits in the Rare tier — an uncommon, standout choice.
What names are similar to Lily?
Names that share Lily's sound and style include Lilly, Lilah, Lilie, Lila, Lili.
What middle names pair well with Lily?
Good middle-name fits for Lily pair an opposite syllable rhythm: if Lily is short, lean longer (e.g. classical or three-syllable middles); if Lily is longer, a one-syllable middle keeps the full name from feeling heavy.
What are good sibling names for Lily?
Sibling names that pair naturally with Lily share its rhythm without rhyming — Lilly, Lilah, Lilie all sit comfortably alongside it on a shortlist.