Lilian is a name of Latin origin that means "lily". It is derived from the Latin word "lilium", which refers to the flower lily. The lily is often associated with purity, beauty, and innocence in many cultures around the world.
The name Lilian has been used for centuries, but it became particularly popular during the Victorian era in England. During this time, names derived from flowers were quite fashionable among the upper classes. As a result, many girls were named Lilian during this period.
In literature, one of the most notable appearances of the name Lilian is in Charles Dickens' novel "Bleak House". The character Lilian Tisher is a supporting character in the story.
Today, Lilian remains a popular choice for parents looking for a classic and elegant name for their daughters. It is often associated with grace and sophistication, reflecting the beauty and purity of the lily flower that it is named after.
Based on the provided statistics, we can observe a significant trend regarding the number of births with the name Lilian in the United States over the years.
From 1880 to around the mid-20th century (1950s), the number of births with the name Lilian fluctuated between single-digit and low double-digit numbers. The highest figure during this period was 42 births in 1970, but overall, the name's popularity remained relatively low.
However, starting from the late 1980s, there has been a notable increase in the number of Lilian births annually. In 1987, the number of births rose to 89, more than doubling the previous year's figure. This upward trend continued through the 1990s and early 2000s, reaching its peak in 2005 with 650 births.
The popularity of the name Lilian seems to have stabilized since then, with the number of annual births ranging between approximately 400 and 700. Despite a slight dip around the late 2010s (likely due to fluctuations in naming trends), the name has maintained consistent popularity, with over 500 births annually in recent years.
In conclusion, while Lilian was not a particularly popular name in the United States during the late 19th and early-to-mid 20th centuries, its popularity grew significantly from the late 1980s onwards. Since then, it has become one of the more common girl's names in the country, with hundreds of births occurring annually.