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Lilian

Girl name · 111 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Lilian: 111 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 7 births in 1976.

Derived from the Latin _Lilium_, meaning “lily,” Lilian first became popular as a flower name in medieval Europe, often associated with the Virgin Mary’s purity and innocence in Christian tradition. It emerged as a variant of Lillian, itself a pet form of Elizabeth, and has been a steady favourite in Scotland since the 1970s. Notable bearers include the actress Lilian Harvey, a star of German and British cinema in the 1920s and 30s, and Lilian Baylis, the pioneering theatre manager who revived the Old Vic and Sadler’s Wells in London. While not directly tied to a specific place, the name shares its floral root with the city of Lilongwe, the capital of Malawi. The spelling Lilian (with one ‘l’) is slightly less common than Lillian but carries a similar timeless elegance.