Lilian
Girl name · #560 in 2025 · Distinctive
Lilian is currently the #560 girl name in the United States — 537 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #497, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 3,352 girls born in 2025 was named Lilian.
Babies named Lilian per year. Source: SSA.
The 145-year story
Lilian first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 19 girls received the name. Its peak came in 2007, when 786 girls were named Lilian — good for #416 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Lilian against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Lilian in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Lilian is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "distinctive". That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Lilian is most common
Geography matters for names, and Lilian is no exception. Adjusted for how many girls are born in each state, Lilian is most common in IL (0.6 per 1,000), CO (0.6 per 1,000), AZ (0.6 per 1,000), MD (0.6 per 1,000), NC (0.5 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.4 per 1,000 girls. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Lilian is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Lilian
Statistically, parents drawn to Lilian tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Jazlyn, Heaven, Kamryn, Raegan, and Laney.
JazlynHeavenKamrynRaeganLaneyLoganMilanMadilyn
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Lilian | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 537 | #560 |
| 2024 | 544 | #557 |
| 2023 | 543 | #558 |
| 2022 | 519 | #576 |
| 2021 | 464 | #639 |
| 2020 | 439 | #656 |
| 2019 | 502 | #601 |
| 2018 | 494 | #612 |
| 2017 | 508 | #588 |
| 2016 | 560 | #557 |
| 2015 | 641 | #497 |
| 2014 | 622 | #502 |
| 2013 | 605 | #495 |
| 2012 | 676 | #462 |
| 2011 | 645 | #462 |
| 2010 | 682 | #452 |
| 2009 | 728 | #436 |
| 2008 | 730 | #435 |
| 2007 | 786 | #416 |
| 2006 | 724 | #441 |
| 2005 | 650 | #474 |
| 2004 | 541 | #526 |
| 2003 | 497 | #556 |
| 2002 | 440 | #587 |
| 2001 | 359 | #692 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Lilian a popular girl name?
Lilian ranked #560 among girls in 2025 with 537 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #497.
When was the name Lilian most popular?
Lilian peaked in 2007, when 786 American girls received the name (ranked #416 that year). Since 2007 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Lilian?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 3,352 newborn American girls was named Lilian. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.