Lily - Names
Meaning of the name Lily
Gender:
Female
Meaning:
Flower lily (from Latin: lilium)
History & etymology:
The name is a direct borrowing from Latin: lilium - flower lily.
Lily has become a very popular name in the first decade of 21st century. This may be due to success of Harry Potter books and films, where Lily is the name of the main character’s mother.
Patron saint of the name is St. Lilian (or Liliosa), born in AD 864. She was a martyr, killed by Mohammedans in Cordova. Her feast day is celebrated on 27th July.
In 2012 the Catholic Church acknowledged another Saint Lily: a Native American woman Tekakwitha born in 17th century, known as Lily of the Mohawks. She died at a young age of 24 because of poor health but during her short life she performed several miracles. Her prayers are said to have caused an 11-year-old boy recover from a terminal illness.
Alternative spellings & nicknames:
Lilly, Lilee, Lilei, Lileigh, Liley, Lili, Lillie, Lylei, Lyley, Lylee
Lily can be a short form of Lillian, Lilith or Liliana
Similar names in other languages & name days:
Czech Republic
25th February: Liliana
Finland
20th May: Liili, Liilia, Lille. Lilli
22nd June: Liina
22nd July: Leeni, Leena
Hungary
27th July: Liliána
11th July: Lili
Latvia
10th March: Liliana
30th April: Liliana, Liana
18th Augus: Liene
Poland
14th February: Liliana, Lilian
4th September: Lilianna
30th April: Lila
Spain
27th March: Lili
Sweden
13th May: Linnea
USA
27th July: Lily, Lilly, Lillie, Liliana, Lilac, Lila
Famous people named Lily:
Lily Aldridge (1985-) - Victoria’s Secret model
Lily Allen (1985-) - British singer
Lily Braun (1865-1916) - German feminist
Lily Brett (1946-) - Australian writer
Lily Brown (1981-) - American poet
Lily Cole (1988-) - English model
Lily Collins (1989-) - British-American actress and model
Lily Elsie (1886 - 1962)- English actress and singer
Lily James (1989-) - English actress
Lily Kim (1980-) - Korean-American TV personality
Fun facts:
Popularity (2015):
USA: 8th (combined spellings)
England and Wales:13th
Canada: 14th
Australia: 23rd
Ireland: 11th
Scotland: 10th
New Zealand: 20th
Lucky colors: black, red
Lucky stone: Garnet
Ruling planet: Mars
Characteristics: courageous, selfless, open-minded, enthusiastic, stubborn, organized
1. Lilybelle was a given name used in Old English. It means ‘beautiful lily’.
2. Flower lily is a symbol of purity.
3. Lily is the name of a character in the American TV series How I Met Your Mother.