Quick Answer
Based on the context provided, there is not enough information to definitively determine whether Lilly is a girl’s name or not. Lilly can be used as a name for girls or boys, so additional context would be needed to know for certain. Some factors that could indicate if Lilly is a girl’s name are:
– If Lilly is referred to using female pronouns like “she” and “her”
– If Lilly is described participating in activities more associated with girls
– If Lilly is paired or contrasted with character names that are clearly female
Without more contextual clues, the name Lilly itself does not confirm the gender, as it is an androgynous name. More details would need to be provided in the story or description to clarify if Lilly is intended as a girl’s name or a boy’s.
What is the origin and meaning behind the name Lilly?
The name Lilly has a few potential origins:
From the flower name Lily
Lilly likely derives from the flower name Lily, which has long been used as a girls’ name. Lilies are a symbol of purity and innocence, which may be positive feminine associations with the name Lilly. The flower name Lily dates back to ancient times and Greek mythology. Lily perhaps comes from the Greek word “leiron” meaning “white”.
From the Latin name Lilia
Some sources suggest Lilly may also come from Lilia, a form of the Latin name Lily. Lilia is feminine in Latin.
From the Hebrew name Lilith
There are also theories that Lilly could be connected to the Hebrew name Lilith. In Jewish folklore, Lilith was the first wife of Adam. While this is a female name, some avoid using the name Lilly for girls because of the associations with the demonized Lilith legend.
Diminutive for Elizabeth
Lilly developed as a Medieval diminutive or nickname for names like Elizabeth. Adding “-y” or “-ie” to Elizabeth forms like Eliza, Elsie, and Ellie emerged as pet names, with Lilly being one variant. Since Elizabeth is undoubtedly female, Lilly belongs to this family of girls’ names.
Surname derived names
Finally, Lilly could come from Lilly being used as a surname first. Surnames like Lilly, Willy, Milly, Tilly, and Billie were adopted as given names and ultimately used more often for girls.
So in summary, Lilly has multiple origins that are largely feminine and linked to female names or flowers. The connections to Lily and Elizabeth reinforce Lilly’s history as a girls’ name predominantly.
Is Lilly more commonly used for girls or boys?
When looking at current usage, Lilly is overwhelmingly more popular for girls than for boys in English-speaking countries. Some data points:
United States
– In 2022, the name Lilly was #100 on the girls’ names chart, and not even ranked for boys.
– Over 99% of people named Lilly are female as per US records.
– The similar name Lily ranks #28 for girls and is also rarely used for boys today.
United Kingdom
– Lilly was #75 for girls in England and Wales in 2021.
– Lilly did not rank on popular boys’ names charts in the UK.
– Comparable girls names like Lily and Lillie were also in the UK girls top 100.
Australia
– In 2021, Lilly was the #29 girls’ name in Australia.
– It was not registered for any baby boys born that year.
– Sister names like Lila and Lyla were also girl names there.
Canada
– Lilly ranked #64 for Canadian girls but did not chart for boy names in 2022.
– The similar girls’ names Lilah, Lillian, Lily and Lilliana were on the top 100 list.
So clearly, present day usage solidly aligns Lilly with a female identity rather than a male one. While not impossible for a boy, Lilly remains predominantly a name chosen for baby girls in current times.
How does the spelling influence whether Lilly is for girls versus boys?
The most common spelling for girls is Lilly with two L’s. However, alternate spellings such as Lily and Lilli also reflect feminine usage more typically.
Spelling variations that are more unisex or masculine include:
- Lilly can sometimes be a spelling for boys named Will or William.
- Lilly is also occasionally a spelling for the French boys’ name Lili.
- The spelling Lilly is not as strongly associated with maleness as Billy, Willy, or Willie spellings.
So names like Billy, Willie, and Will are generally reserved for boys only now. But Lilly with two L’s still skews heavily female – over 98% of Lillys were girls in 2022.
The spelling has moved solidly into the female camp at this point, while boys’ spellings use one “L” or different endings like “ie” versus “y”. But spelling alone doesn’t make Lilly definitely female – it’s usage plus spelling that cement it as a girls’ name predominantly.
Are there examples of Lilly being used as a boys’ name?
Though uncommon, Lilly can still be found as a boy’s name occasionally. Some examples of males named Lilly include:
- Lilly Singh – A Canadian YouTuber and comedian.
- Lilly Wachowski – An American film director (The Matrix), who transitioned from male to female and kept the name Lilly.
- Lilly Becker – A German male fashion designer, who named his son Lilly.
- Lilly Hardy – a male soldier in the video game Battlefield 1.
There are also some male fictional characters with the name Lilly, such as Lilly in the Netfix series Dark.
So while very rare, Lilly does see some masculine usage, especially in names that family members choose specifically to be unique. But it remains far more widespread among females. The few male Lilly examples don’t outweigh the thousands of women and girls bearing the name today.
What other female names are similar to Lilly?
Lilly fits into a feminine naming tradition of short, floral, frilly “-y” ending names. Similar girls names in style include:
- Lily
- Daisy
- Poppy
- Rosie
- Millie
- Maggie
- Abby
- Allie
- Ellie
- Hallie
- Hattie
- Heidi
- Ivy
- Josie
- Katie
- Lacy
- Lucy
- Minnie
- Maisie
- Mollie
- Nellie
- Phoebe
- Sophie
- Sally
- Callie
- Kylie
- Marley
- Zoe
Many of these comparable names are strictly feminine today. Their similarity in style and sound reinforces that Lilly is part of a set of female names.
What girls’ names pair well with Lilly?
If Lilly is being used for a girl, some complementary first and middle name ideas include:
- Lilly Rose
- Lilly May
- Lilly Kate
- Lilly Jane
- Lilly Marie
- Lilly Anne
- Lilly Catherine
- Lilly Victoria
- Lilly Madison
- Lilly Grace
- Lilly Charlotte
- Lilly Amelia
- Lilly Olivia
- Lilly Aurora
- Lilly Iris
- Lilly Hazel
- Lilly Violet
- Lilly Sophia
- Lilly Penelope
- Lilly Hannah
- Lilly Abigail
- Lilly Eleanor
- Lilly Scarlett
Feminine middle names that sound pleasing with Lilly up front include choices like Mae, Belle, Eve, Paige, and Rae as well.
Again, pairing Lilly with unambiguously girls’ names supports Lilly being used for a female child.
Does the nickname Lilly suggest a girl?
Lilly on its own can be a given first name, but also arises commonly as a:
- Nickname for Lillian
- Nickname for Elizabeth
- Nickname for Lilith
- Short form of Lilliana
Since these full names are feminine, that associates their nicknames like Lilly with girls too. Lillian, Elizabeth, and Lilith are strictly female names, putting Lilly in the girls’ camp.
Lilly can also be a pet form for names like:
- Delilah
- Lillie
- Lilia
- Lila
Though originally a nickname, Lilly has become an established given name for girls in its own right. But the origin as a feminine diminutive continues to give it a girlish vibe.
Is Lilly more popular in certain locations?
Lilly has been most widely embraced as a girls’ name in English speaking countries, including:
- United States
- United Kingdom
- Canada
- Australia
It has risen most dramatically in popularity as a girls’ name in the US, entering the top 100 most popular girls’ names in the early 2000s.
The name Lilly is much less common in non-English speaking countries overall. It does not rank within the top names for girls or boys in places like Spain, France, or Italy.
But in English-speaking regions, Lilly solidly lines up with the top current choices for baby girls specifically, affirming the feminine association.
Conclusion
In summary, while Lilly can occasionally be a male name, evidence strongly suggests it is predominately used as a female name instead. Its origins link it to feminine namesakes and flowers. Current popularity data shows it ranking solely for girls. Stylistically it fits with other female names ending in “y”. Nickname origins and pairing with middle names also point towards a girlish identity. For these reasons, if one had to guess if Lilly was a girl’s or boy’s name, the odds greatly favor it being a girls’ name across English-speaking locations. Context could provide more clues, but the name Lilly itself communicates femininity more often than masculinity.
Popularity of Lilly as a Girl’s Name Over Time
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2022 | #100 |
| 2021 | #96 |
| 2020 | #91 |
| 2019 | #74 |
| 2018 | #63 |
| 2017 | #54 |
| 2016 | #51 |
| 2015 | #49 |
| 2014 | #50 |
| 2013 | #32 |
