Lillie
/ˈlɪl.i/
Lillie is a spelling variant of Lily, from the Latin lilium and Greek leirion, referring to the lily flower.
Lilies carry deep symbolic meaning across many traditions: purity and renewal in Christianity, majesty in ancient Egypt, and rebirth in Greek mythology.
The variant spelling with -ie was standard in 19th-century Britain and America, following the Victorian convention of spelling flower and nature names with the affectionate diminutive ending.
What the name Lillie means
Lillie peaked in early SSA records at No. 33 in 1881 with 678 births. In 2024 it ranks No. 684 with 416 births, returning to use after decades of dormancy.
Jersey Lillie’ Langtry (1853-1929), the celebrated British actress and socialite, was born Emilie Charlotte Le Breton but became universally known as Lillie Langtry, helping fix the spelling in the public imagination.
Two syllables—LIL-ee—are bright and sweet. The liquid opening consonant and high front vowel finish give it a lightness matched by few names of its length.
Parents who choose Lillie over the more common Lily often prefer the vintage -ie spelling, connecting the name to its 19th-century heyday while using a form that feels slightly more distinctive today.
Related names include Lily, Lilian, Lillian, Lilia, and Liliana—a full family of floral feminines sharing the same root.
US popularity over time
Numerology and symbolism
Based on Pythagorean numerology — a traditional system linking name letters to numbers. Presented for cultural interest.
Famous people named Lillie
Lillie - similar names
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