Lily
Say it: LIL-ee/ˈlɪli/
GirlMeans lily, the flower4 letters2 syllables
#1
in Ireland (2025)
#3 with spellings combined
302
babies in 2025
#3
best rank (2025)
6,580
babies since 1981
Up 8
10-year rank change
Lily through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (girls) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 302 | #3 |
| 2024 | 253 | #6 |
| 2023 | 270 | #5 |
| 2022 | 291 | #5 |
| 2021 | 271 | #9 |
| 2020 | 247 | #13 |
| 2019 | 267 | #13 |
| 2018 | 262 | #15 |
| 2017 | 289 | #13 |
| 2016 | 334 | #10 |
| 2015 | 341 | #11 |
| 2014 | 350 | #11 |
| 2013 | 309 | #17 |
| 2012 | 449 | #5 |
| 2011 | 496 | #5 |
| 2010 | 371 | #14 |
| 2009 | 336 | #20 |
| 2008 | 248 | #29 |
| 2007 | 232 | #28 |
| 2006 | 153 | #42 |
| 2005 | 119 | #52 |
| 2004 | 101 | #59 |
| 2003 | 66 | #75 |
| 2002 | 58 | #85 |
| 2001 | 53 | #91 |
| 2000 | 34 | #120 |
| 1999 | 19 | #185 |
| 1998 | 13 | #222 |
| 1997 | 15 | #254 |
| 1996 | 3 | #534 |
| 1995 | 6 | #384 |
| 1994 | 8 | #329 |
| 1992 | 3 | #522 |
| 1991 | 3 | #515 |
| 1988 | 4 | #442 |
| 1981 | 4 | #471 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Lily mean?
Lily, the flower
English flower name, from the word lily.
Say it right
LILee
The story of Lily
Lily is simply the flower. It was one of many flower names that became fashionable for girls in the 1800s, and the lily’s long use in Christian art as a sign of purity added to its appeal. It has also served as a pet form of Lilian, and now and then of Elizabeth.
Lily first appears in the CSO records in 1981, and for years only a handful of girls got the name. It took off in the 2000s and reached number 5 in 2011, its biggest year, with 496 girls. In 2025 it was number 1 on the CSO’s official list, which counts each spelling separately. With all the spellings of other names added together, it came third that year.
In Northern Ireland its best rank is fifth, which it reached in 2011 and again in 2025.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Lily (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Lily (name)
- CSO VSA60, Girls Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- NISRA, First Forenames Given to Babies Registered in Northern Ireland
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Lily | 302 | 6,580 |
In Northern Ireland
#5 in 2025 with 96 babies. Best rank #5 (2011); 2,324 babies since 1999.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.