Lily is a name of English origin that has been popular for centuries. It is derived from the Latin word "lilium," which means "lily flower." The lily has long been considered a symbol of purity, beauty, and grace in many cultures around the world.
The name Lily first appeared as a given name in England during the Middle Ages. It was initially used as a nickname for women with the surname Lilly or Lilie, which were derived from the Latin word "lilium." Over time, Lily became established as an independent given name and gained popularity throughout Europe.
In literature, one of the earliest appearances of the name Lily is in John Milton's epic poem "Paradise Lost," published in 1667. In this work, Milton uses the name Lily to refer to the lily flower that grows in Eden, the biblical Garden of Eden.
The name Lily was also popular among royalty during the Victorian era. Queen Victoria's daughter Princess Louise was known as "Lily" by her family and close friends. This further contributed to the name's popularity during this period.
Today, Lily remains a beloved and popular choice for parents naming their daughters. Its simple elegance and associations with beauty and purity make it an appealing option for many families around the world. Despite its long history, the name Lily feels fresh and modern, making it suitable for parents who want to give their child a classic yet timeless name.
Statistics on the given name Lily in the United States are quite interesting to explore. Over the past few decades, there have been fluctuations in its popularity.
In the year 1927 and again in 1934, the name Lily was given to just five newborn girls each year. This suggests that during this period, the name wasn't particularly popular or trendy.
Fast forward several years, to 1989 and 2003, and we see a slight increase in its usage with six births each year for both these years.
However, it was between 2004 and 2015 that Lily experienced peak popularity. In 2004, the name was given to an impressive 21 newborn girls. This number dropped somewhat in subsequent years but remained consistently high: 17 births in 2005, nine births each year from 2006 to 2008, eight births in 2009, nine births again in 2010, and seven births each year from 2011 to 2014.
More recently, the popularity of Lily seems to have decreased somewhat. There were only five births registered for the name in both 2020 and 2021.
Overall, looking at these statistics, we can see that while Lily was not one of the most popular names throughout the entire period, it did experience periods of increased popularity between 2004 to 2015. It's always fascinating how trends in naming change over time!