Girl Name
Tilly
Tilly is a girl's name whose meaning is not firmly attested in the historical record. It is used as a girl's name across several naming traditions, and it is rare in the United States today — outside the SSA top 1,000.
Considering Tilly? It is a girl name, and ranks in our Rare popularity tier. Phonetically it shares territory with Telly.
Tilly meaning, origin, and usage
Meaning: Tilly has a distinctive sound and evolving modern usage.
Origin: Multiple naming traditions are associated with this name.
Pronunciation: Baby Name Studio pronounces Tilly as T·I·L·L·Y, with 5 letters and a girl usage profile.
Popularity: According to Baby Name Studio's 2026 tracker, Tilly is an uncommon, standout choice in the Rare tier.
Tilly variants, nicknames, middle names, and sibling names
- Variants and spelling ideas: Tillya, Tillye, Tillyy, Till.
- Nicknames: Til and T.
- Middle names: Pair Tilly with a middle name that balances its substantial sound; start with the Tilly middle name generator.
- Sibling names: Telly, Tully, Tillie, Twila, Twyla — full picks on the sibling names for Tilly guide for a cohesive sibset.
- Similar names: Looking for names that sound like Tilly? Browse our names like Tilly 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 Tilly
What does the name Tilly mean?
Tilly 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 Tilly?
The exact origin of Tilly is debated, but it has been used across multiple naming traditions.
How do you pronounce Tilly?
Tilly has 5 letters and is most commonly stressed on the first syllable.
Is Tilly a boy's or girl's name?
Tilly is primarily used as a girl's name in US records.
How popular is Tilly in 2026?
In our 2026 popularity tracker, Tilly sits in the Rare tier — an uncommon, standout choice.
What names are similar to Tilly?
Names that share Tilly's sound and style include Telly, Tully, Tillie, Twila, Twyla.
What middle names pair well with Tilly?
Good middle-name fits for Tilly pair an opposite syllable rhythm: if Tilly is short, lean longer (e.g. classical or three-syllable middles); if Tilly is longer, a one-syllable middle keeps the full name from feeling heavy.
What are good sibling names for Tilly?
Sibling names that pair naturally with Tilly share its rhythm without rhyming — Telly, Tully, Tillie all sit comfortably alongside it on a shortlist.