Lillian Name Meaning & Origin
Lillian
Origin of the name Lillian:
Derived from the older Lilion, which is thought to be from the Latin lilium (lily).
From A World of Baby Names by Teresa Norman.
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US Popularity of Lillian Over Time

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- Comments and insights on the name Lillian
We named our daughter Lillian Raye. (Lilly Raye). We call her our Lil Raye of sunshine :-)
My neice's name is Lillian Marie - we call her Lily.
My name is Lillian. I always hated it when I was little because i thought it was way too girly for my personality. I also didnt like the silly nicknames like "Lily pad". Now that I'm older, I love it. It will age well, and it's super awesome in cursive. I would definatly recommend the name. There are tons of nickname options and the name never goes out of style. Just remember, two Ls not one.
Lillian is so cute!
Such a gorgeous name! I first heard it when watching Rugrats. I fell in love with the name!
- Personal experiences with the name Lillian
In the South, I've heard it pronounced Lil-yin, rather than Lili-an.
My thirteen-year-old stepdaughter is named Lillian Spencer. I like the girl/boy first and middle name contrast. She's very girly, and I think her name suits her. When she was a kid, we called her Lilly and Lil, but she doesn't like to be called that anymore! Her brothers' names are Jack and Hudson, and her sisters' names are Emeline and Adella.
My friend's name is Lillian Rose,after 2 great-aunts of hers. Most people automatically shorten it to "Lil" without thinking. Her brother's name is Leo, and her sisters' names are Magdalen (Maggie) and Adele.
I named my daughter Lillian Violet and she hates it because it sounds old and feminine. But it's still a beautiful name! She's always been called Lily.
My name is Lillian Victoria, and I love it. I love to tell people my full name, it astounds them. Most of my close friends call me Lila or Lil. Even though I do not ID as female, its a wonderfully feminine and sophisticated name.
- Nicknames for Lillian
Lil, Lils
Lily, Lillie, Lilly, Lilli
Lian (sounds like Liam)
Lila
Tiger-Lily, Lily Pad- Meanings and history of the name Lillian
- Famous real-life people named Lillian
Lillian Carter, mother of President Jimmy Carter
Lillian Gish, American actress
Lillian Hellman, American author
Lillian Moller Gilbreth, American psychologist
Lillian Nordica, American opera singer
Lillian Roth, American actress and singer
Lillian Randolph, American actress and singer
Lillian Russell, American actress and singer
Lillian Lorraine, Ziegfeld girl
Lillian McCormack Morris (b. 2011), daughter of American actress Mary McCormack
Lillian Blankenship, child actress- Lillian in song, story & screen
Rosalie Lillian Hale of the Twilight Saga
Queen Lillian in Shrek (Princess Fiona's mother)
"Lillian, Egypt", song by Josh Ritter
Lillian "Lil" DeVill from the "Rugrats"