Lilly is Lily with a double-L — the same pure, beautiful flower, the same Latin lilium, but with a visual symmetry that some parents find more pleasing on the page. The extra letter doesn't change the pronunciation or meaning, but it creates a different aesthetic impression: slightly more formal, slightly more balanced. Lilly Pulitzer's pink-and-green fashion empire keeps this spelling visible.
Latin lilium (lily)→English Lily→double-L variant Lilly
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English / Latin roots
Lilly is an alternate spelling of Lily, from the Latin lilium. The double-L variant has coexisted with the single-L for centuries. Lilly Pulitzer (1931–2013) was the socialite-turned-designer whose colourful, preppy resort wear became an American fashion empire — the brand remains enormously popular. Lilly Singh is a Canadian entertainer who became one of YouTube's biggest stars and the first openly bisexual woman of South Asian descent to host a US late-night show. The double-L spelling has its own chart presence in the US.
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First recorded
Earliest known use: The double-L spelling has been used alongside single-L Lily for centuries.
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Today
Lilly remains a beloved choice, ranking #198 in the US. 65,499 babies have been named Lilly since 1880.
◈ Sources: Behind the Name, SSA data
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How popular is Lilly?
2010peak year
Lilly reached its widest reach during the 2010s. In 2010, 2,890 babies received the name (ranked #106). In the present decade it sits around #198, with about 1,612 babies given the name annually. Lilly has been declining in recent years. The all-time total comes to roughly 65,499 registrations.
Year-by-year registrations1880–2024 · U.S. Social Security data
2,890 Babies named in peak year (ranked #106)
1,612Avg. per year (last decade)
16,120Total registrations last 10 years
65,499All-time total (since 1880)
Popularity in the US today (rank #198)Very popular
Lilly's Life Path 8 is the achiever's number — surprising ambition behind the flower's gentle image. People named Lilly tend to combine delicacy with determination. Their petals are soft but their roots are strong.
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