Lillian
Lillian began as a diminutive of Elizabeth, but it has long been associated with the Latin "lilium" — the lily flower. The lily has been a symbol of purity in Christian art for centuries, often associated with the Virgin Mary. The name was essentially a flower name by the 19th century, separated from its Elizabeth roots. Lillian was a top-20 American name from 1880 to 1925, peaking at #4 in 1898. It declined mid-century, nearly fell out of the top 1000 in the 1990s, and then had one of the most dramatic revivals in naming history. It re-entered the top 100 in 2002 and the top 50 in 2010. The driver was the broader vintage-name trend — Lillian has the same old-fashioned elegance as Charlotte and Evelyn. I find Lillian has a soft, slightly vintage quality — the "L" opening is gentle, the "ll" gives it softness, and the "an" ending gives it warmth. The nickname Lily (now a popular name in its own right) lightens it considerably. Lillian is a female name of Latin (via English) origin that means "Lily (the flower)". Soft, vintage, and elegant. The name sounds graceful. Lillians tend to be warm. US top 50 since 2010. Rising. Well-known people named Lillian include Lillian (lily), Lillian Hellman (playwright), Lillian Gish (actress), Lillian (fictional, various). Common variations and related forms of Lillian include Lilian (variant), Lily (related), Lilia (Italian), Lilli (nickname).