Abigail
Hebrew
“my father is joyful”
Mostly girls · English from Latin
“lily; pledged to God”
Say it LIL-yunPronunciation may vary by region.
A little maybe, saved for later.
The story behind the name
Lillian is strongly associated with the flower name Lily, but its early history may also involve a familiar form of Elizabeth. That creates two possible connections: the flower itself and Elizabeth's traditional meaning, pledged to God.
Lilian is an alternative spelling. Lily or Lilly can be used as a short form, giving parents a longer formal name while keeping the brief botanical-sounding version for everyday use.
A little perspective
Recorded US births over time
| Year | Category | US rank | Births |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 57 | 3,966 |
| 2024 | Girls | 54 | 3,893 |
| 2023 | Girls | 55 | 3,940 |
| 2022 | Girls | 50 | 4,260 |
| 2021 | Girls | 51 | 4,328 |
| 2020 | Boys | 13,292 | 5 |
| 2020 | Girls | 46 | 4,515 |
| 2019 | Girls | 37 | 5,127 |
| 2018 | Girls | 34 | 5,567 |
| 2017 | Boys | 10,354 | 7 |
| 2017 | Girls | 27 | 6,181 |
| 2016 | Boys | 7,928 | 10 |
| 2016 | Girls | 28 | 6,386 |
| 2015 | Boys | 13,262 | 5 |
| 2015 | Girls | 26 | 6,628 |
| 2014 | Girls | 25 | 6,924 |
Rankings are calculated separately for boys and girls. Records below the publication threshold may be missing; gaps are not zero births.
Keep the possibilities coming
More names with a similar feeling or shared roots.
Hebrew
“my father is joyful”
French form of Clara
“bright, clear”
Hebrew
“Traditionally weary; derivation uncertain”
Hebrew, Japanese
“pleasantness (Hebrew); Japanese meaning depends on kanji”
French variation of Sophia, Greek
“wisdom”
Latin
“victory”