Spelling comparison
Lily vs Lilly
Side by side for 2025, Lily has the higher published total (6,673) and Lilly has 1,218. Lily is 84.6% of the pair and Lilly is 15.4%.
US national data through 2025 · Source retrieved
Data updated
A reviewed spelling override keeps this pair together. Lily profile · Lilly profile
Lily versus Lilly is a spelling comparison, not a comparison of two different names. Each figure belongs to one exact spelling. Lilly is the longer of the two spellings, and Lily is the shorter. Lilly writes “l” between “Lil” and “y”, and Lily leaves that spot out.
In years when both spellings were published, the lead changed 27 times. The latest crossover is 1966, when Lily moved ahead of Lilly on the combined published count (112 to 104).
Lily is first published in these national files in 1880, and Lilly in 1880. Lily’s larger 2025 category is female. Lilly’s larger 2025 category is female. Lilly led 4 decades and Lily led 11 decades among decades in which both spellings have a published total.
Inside 2016–2025, the widest combined gap was 5,455 records in 2025, and the closest year was 2019 (a gap of 3,908). Of the combined 2025 records for this pair (7,891), Lily is 84.6% and Lilly is 15.4%.
2016–2025, count and rank
2016 belongs to Lily. Lily had 6,610 female records (rank #24); Lilly had 2,172 female records (rank #143). The gap that year was 4,438 records. For 2017, compare the categories separately: Lily had 5,862 female records (rank #33); Lilly had 1,932 female records (rank #152). Lily led 2017 by 3,930 published records (5,862 to 1,932), and the smaller spelling is Lilly. Lily was the higher published spelling in 2018, with 5,753 female records (rank #31) against 1,788 female records (rank #160) for Lilly. The 2019 national file shows Lily led 2019 by 3,908 published records (5,461 to 1,553). Read as exact spellings: Lily had 5,461 female records (rank #34); Lilly had 1,553 female records (rank #190). 2020: Lily led 2020 by 3,974 published records (5,263 to 1,289). Lily and Lilly stay separate rows; 5,263 and 1,289 are not a combined baby-name total. In 2021, Lily had 5,632 female records (rank #31); Lilly had 1,356 female records (rank #218). Lily led 2021 by 4,276 published records (5,632 to 1,356). 2022 belongs to Lily. Lily had 6,012 female records (rank #30); Lilly had 1,315 female records (rank #230). The gap that year was 4,697 records. For 2023, compare the categories separately: Lily had 6,176 female records (rank #20); Lilly had 1,202 female records (rank #257). Lily led 2023 by 4,974 published records (6,176 to 1,202), and the smaller spelling is Lilly. Lily was the higher published spelling in 2024, with 6,121 female records (rank #24) against 1,221 female records (rank #261) for Lilly. The 2025 national file shows Lily led 2025 by 5,455 published records (6,673 to 1,218). Read as exact spellings: Lily had 6,673 female records (rank #18); Lilly had 1,218 female records (rank #252).
| Year | Lily female count | Lily female rank | Lily male count | Lily male rank | Lilly female count | Lilly female rank | Lilly male count | Lilly male rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 6,610 | 24 | — | — | 2,172 | 143 | — | — |
| 2017 | 5,862 | 33 | — | — | 1,932 | 152 | — | — |
| 2018 | 5,753 | 31 | — | — | 1,788 | 160 | — | — |
| 2019 | 5,461 | 34 | — | — | 1,553 | 190 | — | — |
| 2020 | 5,258 | 35 | 5 | 13,293 | 1,289 | 229 | — | — |
| 2021 | 5,632 | 31 | — | — | 1,356 | 218 | — | — |
| 2022 | 6,012 | 30 | — | — | 1,315 | 230 | — | — |
| 2023 | 6,176 | 20 | — | — | 1,202 | 257 | — | — |
| 2024 | 6,121 | 24 | — | — | 1,221 | 261 | — | — |
| 2025 | 6,673 | 18 | — | — | 1,218 | 252 | — | — |
Combined counts, 1880–2025
Each line adds the published female and male counts for that spelling. A gap is a year with no published observation, not a zero. Lily is the warm line and Lilly is the cool line.
Which spelling led each decade
The 1880s files give 680 published records to Lily and 781 to Lilly, so Lilly led the decade. Lilly was the 1890s leader, 1,107 published records against 979 for Lily. The 1900s files give 1,045 published records to Lily and 1,314 to Lilly, so Lilly led the decade. Lily was the 1910s leader, 2,795 published records against 2,369 for Lilly. The 1920s files give 3,762 published records to Lily and 2,964 to Lilly, so Lily led the decade. Lily was the 1930s leader, 2,234 published records against 2,034 for Lilly. The 1940s files give 1,511 published records to Lily and 1,596 to Lilly, so Lilly led the decade. Lily was the 1950s leader, 1,426 published records against 1,416 for Lilly. The 1960s files give 1,148 published records to Lily and 1,134 to Lilly, so Lily led the decade. Lily was the 1970s leader, 1,220 published records against 630 for Lilly. The 1980s files give 2,714 published records to Lily and 714 to Lilly, so Lily led the decade. Lily was the 1990s leader, 9,772 published records against 2,270 for Lilly. The 2000s files give 56,263 published records to Lily and 17,295 to Lilly, so Lily led the decade. Lily was the 2010s leader, 68,363 published records against 23,527 for Lilly. The 2020s files give 35,877 published records to Lily and 7,601 to Lilly, so Lily led the decade.
Top states in 2025
Lily’s highest 2025 state counts, combining published female and male rows where both exist, are California (748), Texas (591), Florida (450), New York (426), Pennsylvania (235). Lilly’s highest 2025 state counts, combining published female and male rows where both exist, are California (109), Texas (105), Florida (78), North Carolina (60), Ohio (54). California, Texas, Florida are in the top states for both spellings. A state can rank differently for each spelling because the counts are not merged.