Liliah
A feminine name of Hebrew origin meaning "my God is He".
Name Census estimates that about 209 living Americans carry the first name Liliah. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Liliah today is around 11 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Liliah births was 2013 (17 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Liliah. 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
209
~ 1 in 1,639,973 Americans
Peak year
2013
17 babies that year
Average age
11
years old
2024 SSA rank
#9,930
Tracked since 2003
Popularity
Liliah: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Liliah from the 2000s through to the 2020s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 111 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Liliah remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Liliah 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 Liliah during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Liliahs live
Origin
Meaning and history of Liliah
The name Liliah is a variant of the Hebrew name Lilia, which means "lily flower." The lily has long been associated with purity, innocence, and beauty in various cultures and religions. This name dates back to ancient times and has its roots in the Middle East and Mediterranean regions.
In ancient Hebrew texts, the lily is mentioned as a symbol of grace and elegance. The Song of Songs, a poetic book in the Old Testament, makes several references to the lily, equating it with the beauty of a beloved woman. This connection likely contributed to the name's enduring popularity.
The earliest recorded use of the name Liliah can be traced back to the 12th century, when it appeared in various historical records from the Middle East and Europe. During this time, the name was often spelled as Lilia or Lilian, reflecting the influence of different languages and cultures.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Liliah or one of its variants. One of the most famous was Liliah Pauline Wilson (1864-1944), an American educator and activist who fought for women's rights and racial equality. Another was Liliah Jahan Ara (1770-1805), a princess and poet of the Mughal Empire in India, known for her contributions to Urdu literature.
In the 16th century, Liliah Croke (1514-1580) was an English noblewoman and courtier during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. She played a significant role in the cultural and political life of the Tudor court.
During the 19th century, Liliah Bayly (1837-1910) was an English author and philanthropist who wrote several novels and advocated for social reforms, particularly in the areas of education and women's rights.
In the early 20th century, Liliah Deedee Bordwell (1895-1983) was an American actress and dancer who performed on Broadway and in various vaudeville shows, becoming a popular entertainer of her time.
The name Liliah has maintained its popularity throughout the centuries, with its origins rooted in ancient cultures and its association with beauty, grace, and purity. While its spelling and pronunciation may have evolved over time, the name's essence and meaning have remained a constant, making it a timeless choice for parents seeking a name with a rich historical and cultural significance.
People
Liliah + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Liliah 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
Liliah: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Liliah?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 209 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Liliah 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 1,639,973 US residents.
Is Liliah a common name?
We classify Liliah as "Very Rare". It ranks above 74.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 211 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Liliah most popular?
The single biggest year for Liliah was 2013, when 17 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Liliah is about 11 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Liliah a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Liliah 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.