Lilian

The name Lilian, considered a unisex variant, carries the meanings "my God is abundance," "God has sworn," or "God is perfection." In its feminine form, Lilian is likely regarded as a short form of Elisabeth in English, while in the French context, it is predominantly used as a male name.

What does the name Lilian mean?

Lilian, a unisex name, can be translated as "my God is abundance," "God has sworn," or "God is perfection." The feminine form is likely derived from Elisabeth and has various origins. One possibility is the derivation from the Hebrew syllables of the name Elischeba, where "el" means "God" and "scheba" means "the promise," "the oath," or "seven." Another derivation could be from the English word "lily" or the Latin "lilium," which also means "the lily." Some researchers suggest that the name could be a combination of Lily and Ann. Variants of the name include Lillian, Lilien, Lilienne, and Liliane, with the longer forms Lilienne and Lilianna being commonly used.

Where does the name Lilian come from?

The origin of the name Lilian is diverse. Many experts trace it back to the Hebrew syllables "el" for "God" and "scheba" for "the promise," "the oath," or "seven." An alternative theory suggests that the name is derived from the Old English "lily" or the Latin "lilium," both leading to the meaning "the lily."

How do you pronounce Lilian?

The pronunciation of Lilian is soft and flowing, with two to three syllables. In the German language, the name is usually pronounced as "Li-li-an" [ˈliːli̯an] or [ˈlɪli̯an]. The repetition of the clear "li" creates a swinging sound movement, while the open vowels give the name a delicate touch. Overall, Lilian conveys a fine, harmonious impression – gentle, elegant, and light.

When is the name day of Lilian?

The name day for Lilian is celebrated on September 23.

Popularity

In Germany, the name Lilian has a long but overall declining history as a female name. Since the first records in the late 1920s, Lilian initially moved in the medium to rare range but gained popularity in the following decades. The name experienced its strongest phase between the early 1950s and 1960s, when it reached its best ranking at 97 in 1952.

Nicknames & pet names

Laily / Lala / Li / Lia / Lian / Lil / Lila / Lili / Lilia / Lilianowitsch / Lilie / Lillan / Lillchen / Lille / Lillebi / Lillebror / Lilli / Lillifee / Lilly / Lilo / Lils / Lily / Lin / Luly / Ly

Similar first names

Famous people

• Ana Lilian de la Macorra (actress from Mexico)
• Gertrude Lilian Elles (British geologist)
• Helen Lilian Shaw (New Zealand poet)
• Ida Lilian Slater (British geologist)
• Leonore Lilian Maria von Schweden (daughter of Madeleine, Princess of Sweden)
• Lilian Ann Kelly (daughter of Joey Kelly)
• Lilian Astier (French footballer)
• Lilian Auma (Kenyan musician)
• Lilian Bach (Nigerian actor)
• Lilian Berlin (American singer)
• Lilian Bochet (footballer from France)
• Lilian Bowes Lyon (English poet)
• Lilian Cheviot (painter)
• Lilian Compan (French football player)
• Lilian Constantini (actor from France)
• Lilian Darcy (writer from Australia)
• Lilian Egloff (professional footballer, VfB Stuttgart)
• Lilian Faschinger (Austrian writer)
• Lilian Hamilton Jeffery (archaeologist from the USA)
• Lilian Harmel (Austrian dancer)