Lilia
A feminine name of Spanish origin representing the lily flower.
Name Census estimates that about 11,719 living Americans carry the first name Lilia. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Lilia today is around 30 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Lilia births was 2007 (308 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Lilia. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
12K
~ 1 in 29,248 Americans
Peak year
2007
308 babies that year
Average age
30
years old
1988 SSA rank
#920
Tracked since 1884
Gender
Gender distribution for Lilia
Out of the 14,000 babies given the name Lilia since 1880, 100.0% were registered as female. The name sits firmly on the female side of the spectrum, with only a handful of male registrations across the entire dataset.
Lilia as a male name
- Ranked #8,030 in 1988
- 5 male births in 1988
- Peak: 1988 (5 births)
Lilia as a female name
- Ranked #920 in 2024
- 288 female births in 2024
- Peak: 2007 (308 births)
Popularity
Lilia: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Lilia from the 1880s through to the 2020s, spanning 15 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 2,733 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Lilia remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Lilia by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Lilia during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Lilias live
The SSA's state-level files cover 34 states and territories. California, Texas, Illinois recorded the most babies named Lilia, while Kentucky, District of Columbia, Kansas recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 313 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Lilia
The name Lilia has its origins in the Latin word "lilium," meaning "lily." It is a feminine variant of the masculine name Lilius or Lille. This name was particularly popular in ancient Rome, where the lily flower held symbolic significance and was associated with purity, beauty, and renewal.
During the Middle Ages, the name Lilia gained popularity across Europe, particularly in regions influenced by Latin and Romance languages. It was commonly used among noble families and the aristocracy, often as a nod to the lily's association with royalty and elegance.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Lilia can be found in the 12th century, when it was mentioned in a French text describing the life of Saint Lilia, a holy woman revered for her piety and charitable works.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Lilia. One of the most famous was Lilia Ivanovna Ratkova (1881-1963), a Russian revolutionary and Bolshevik activist who played a prominent role in the October Revolution of 1917.
Another noteworthy figure was Lilia Massey (1900-1975), a British author and illustrator best known for her children's books featuring the character Bunny Rabbit. Her whimsical storytelling and charming illustrations captured the hearts of young readers worldwide.
In the world of music, Lilia Mendoza (1891-1986) was a renowned Mexican singer and composer, celebrated for her contributions to the ranchera and mariachi genres. Her powerful voice and emotive performances left an indelible mark on Mexican folk music.
The name Lilia also holds significance in the realm of science. Lilia Polonskaya (1923-2002) was a distinguished Russian mathematician and computer scientist, renowned for her groundbreaking work in mathematical logic and the theory of algorithms.
Lastly, Lilia Skala (1896-1994) was a celebrated Austrian-American actress who appeared in numerous films and television shows throughout her long and illustrious career. Her performances were widely acclaimed for their depth and emotional resonance.
The name Lilia has endured for centuries, carrying with it a rich tapestry of cultural and historical significance. From its Latin roots to its present-day usage, this name continues to evoke associations of beauty, purity, and elegance, making it a timeless choice for parents seeking a name with a captivating heritage.
People
Lilia + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Lilia as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with L
Other first names starting with L with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Lilia: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Lilia?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 11,719 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Lilia going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 29,248 US residents.
Is Lilia a common name?
We classify Lilia as "Uncommon". It ranks above 97.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 14,000 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Lilia most popular?
The single biggest year for Lilia was 2007, when 308 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Lilia is about 30 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Lilia a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Lilia in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.