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The short answer
Lilly is a feminine English variant spelling of Lily, the flower name ultimately from Latin lilium, and it is also used in Scandinavia as a form of Lily or as a diminutive of Elisabeth. Behind the Name's Lily entry notes the flower is a symbol of purity. It is pronounced LIL-ee. In the United States it ranked #252 for girls in 2025.
Meaning and etymology
Behind the Name describes Lilly as an "English variant of Lily", also "used in Scandinavia, as a form of Lily or a diminutive of Elisabeth". Its Lily entry gives the underlying name as "from the name of the flower, a symbol of purity", with the word "ultimately derived from Latin lilium".
Editorial confidence: established
Linguistic roots
| Language | Form | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Latin | lilium | lily (the flower) |
Competing or overlapping origins
- As a Scandinavian diminutive of Elisabeth rather than a form of Lily
Popularity
Lilly ranked #252 for girls in the United States in 2025 (Social Security Administration).
| Region | Year | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2025 | #252 | ssa-2025 |
Nicknames, variants, and related names
Nicknames: None documented.
Variants: Lily, Lillie, Lilian, Lillian
Related names: Lily, Elisabeth, Liliana
What the name feels like
Lilly has a light, floral softness with the doubled-L spelling giving it a slightly more decorative, old-fashioned look than the plainer Lily. It sits comfortably alongside other flower names.
Style tags: floral, vintage-tinged, two syllables
Editorial interpretation: These style impressions are editorial judgment, not linguistic fact.
If you like this name
Names that share Lilly's floral origin or its short, soft sound.
Similar by sound
Similar by meaning
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Lilly mean?
Lilly is a variant of Lily, the flower name, ultimately from Latin lilium; Behind the Name notes the flower is a symbol of purity.
Is Lilly a popular name?
Lilly ranked #252 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.
Is Lilly short for Elisabeth?
Behind the Name notes that in Scandinavia, Lilly is also used as a diminutive of Elisabeth, in addition to being a form of Lily.
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Lilly — supports etymology, pronunciation, variants.
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Lily — supports meaning.
- U.S. Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names — national data, year of birth 2025 — supports popularity.
