The Baby Name Wizard

Reader Contributions

Contribute to, or edit, this collection of community wisdom on the name Lily!

Comments and insights on the name Lily: | Edit

A friend of mine had a beautiful little girl named Lily and the name suited her so perfectly - she had silvery blond hair and blue eyes. Since that matches the coloring of my husband, there's a chance we could have a daughter with the same coloring, and I would name her Lily because it's so feminine and soft.

The name Lily is #11 on the list of top 100 cool baby girl names in the baby name book "Cool Names" by Pamela Redmond Satran and Linda Rosenkrantz.

Lily can also be a nickname for "Elizabeth". Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, was called "Lilibeth" as a child.

Today's Grandparents or Great-Grandparents may associate this name with Lily St. Cyr, the beautiful burlesque queen.

Personal experiences with the name Lily: | Edit

Lily is actually a shortening of my long name. The nickname has been stuck with me since I was born, mainly because it’s short, simple, and sweet. I like it.

Nicknames for Lily: | Edit

Lil
Lils
Lily Pad
Lilster
Silly Lily
Leigh

Meanings and history of the name Lily: | Edit

Means PURITY - like the flower, from the Latin lilum
In Jewish legend, Lilith was Adams first wife, before Eve and not created from his rib.

Famous real-life people named Lily: | Edit

Lily Allen, Singer
Lily Cole, model
Lily Donaldson, model
Lillian Gish, actress
Lillie Langtry, actress
Lilly Pulitzer, famous dress designer and socialite
Lily St. Cyr, famous 1950's burlesque dancer
Lily Mo Sheen, daughter of Kate Beckinsale and Michael Sheen
Lily Tomlin, Comedienne

Lily in song, story & screen: | Edit

Lily Aldrin, character on TV show "How I Met Your Mother"
Lily Bart, character in Edith Wharton's "The House of Mirth"
Lily Bass (née Van Der Woodsen), character in the "Gossip Girl" books and TV show
Lily Briscoe, character in Virginia Woolf's "To the Lighthouse"
Lily Goldenblatt, character in TV show "Sex and the City" and its subsequent movies
Lily Munster, character in the TV show "The Munsters"
Lily Potter (née Evans), mother of the title-character in JK Rowling's "Harry Potter" series
Lily Tucker-Pritchett, character on TV show "Modern Family"
Lily, character in the children's books by Kevin Henkes (i.e Lily and the Purple Plastic Purse)
Miss Lilly, character in the "Angelina Ballerina" books
Tiger Lily, character in "Peter Pan"
Lily Redfern, a vampire character in the "Night World" series by L.J. Smith.

"Lily's Eyes," song from the musical, "The Secret Garden"
"Lily (My One and Only)," song by The Smashing Pumpkins
"Pictures of Lily", song by The Who
"Lily Pond", song by Vashti Bunyan
"Lily and Parrots", song by Sun Kil Moon
"Tiger Lily", song by Luna
"Lily, Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts", song by Bob Dylan
"We Laugh Indoors" , song by Death Cab For Cutie features the name.
"Rocky Horror Picture Show", Janet recognizes her new sense of self by singing "God bless Lily St. Cyr"
"Lily" by John Kramon
"Lily" by Rebecca Schiffman
"Lily Two" by Matt Pond PA