Lily is a feminine given name usually derived from lily , the flower. The name became particularly popular along with other flower names for girls during the 1800s and early 1900s. The lily also has associations with and has been symbolic of innocence and purity in Christian art. [1] [2] Names beginning with or containing the letter L have also been particularly fashionable for girls. [3] It is also occasionally used as a diminutive for other names such as Elizabeth . [4]
The popularity of the name increased steadily in most countries in western Europe and English -speaking countries during the late 20th and early 21st centuries. [5]
The name is often used in combination with other names, sometimes spelled with a hyphen and sometimes without. Well-used combination names in use in countries such as Canada and the United States include those influenced by Lillian or Liliana or considered a combination of Lily and the names Anna , Ann, or Anne, such as Liliann, Lilianna, Lili-Ann, Lili-Anne, Lillianna, Lillianne, Lillyana, Lillyann, Lilly-Ann, Lillyanna, Lillyanne, Lilly-Anne, Lilyana, Lilyanna, Lily-Anne and Lily-Ann.