Aaliyah vs Lily
Aaliyah and Lilycompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Aaliyah was ranked #226 and Lily #1 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Aaliyah was ranked #148 and Lily #3 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Aaliyah was ranked #215 and Lily #4 among girls in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Aaliyah was ranked #288 and Lily #6 among girls in Northern Ireland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2023, Aaliyah was ranked #64 and Lily #7 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2025, Aaliyah was ranked #86 and Lily #9 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Aaliyah and Lily over time
Aaliyah and Lily appear together in 5 published lists, across 114 years of shared records. Lily held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Aaliyah in 0.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Aaliyah reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, Lily in 1. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
How this pair is related
The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2003, Lily moved ahead of Aaliyah in Northern Ireland · Girls — #150 and #162 the year before became #225 and #79.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 20 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Aaliyah and Lily averaged 49.5 places apart, ending at #64 and #7.
- Mirrored each other
Over 23 shared years in Northern Ireland · Girls, Lily rose about as far as Aaliyah fell — from #150 and #162 in 2002 to #288 and #6 in 2024.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Aaliyah held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Lily in 29.
Highest recorded here: Aaliyah #92 in 2002, Lily #3 in 2011.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Aaliyah #148, Lily #3.
Republic of Ireland · Girls25 shared years, 2001–2025
Aaliyah held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Lily in 25.
Highest recorded here: Aaliyah #192 in 2019, Lily #1 in 2025.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Aaliyah #226, Lily #1.
Northern Ireland · Girls23 shared years, 2002–2024
Aaliyah held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Lily in 22.
Highest recorded here: Aaliyah #139 in 2004, Lily #5 in 2011.
The order changed in 2003: Lily moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #150 and #162; by 2003 that had become #225 and #79.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Aaliyah #288, Lily #6.
New Zealand · Girls20 shared years, 2001–2023
Aaliyah held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Lily in 20.
Highest recorded here: Aaliyah #41 in 2002, Lily #5 in 2022.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Aaliyah #64, Lily #7.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls17 shared years, 2009–2025
Aaliyah held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Lily in 17.
Highest recorded here: Aaliyah #63 in 2020, Lily #7 in 2010.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Aaliyah #86, Lily #9.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Lily
Pairs where Lily shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Lily vs Rachael
In 1996 they stood at #85 and #77 in England and Wales · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2024 they were #3 and #3318.
Lily · Rachael · 29 shared years, 1996–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Lily vs Nicola
In 1996 they stood at #85 and #87 in England and Wales · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2024 they were #3 and #2253.
Lily · Nicola · 29 shared years, 1996–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Lily vs Leanne
In 1996 they stood at #85 and #88 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2024 they were #3 and #2115.
Lily · Leanne · 29 shared years, 1996–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Lily vs Claire
In 1996 they stood at #85 and #90 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2024 they were #3 and #1021.
Lily · Claire · 29 shared years, 1996–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Aaliyah | Lily |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | From the English word for the lily flower. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | English (flower name) |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈlɪli/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Lil, Lilah, Lillie, Lilly, Lilian |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #86 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #1 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Lily has a recorded origin (English (flower name)); Aaliyah does not have one recorded yet.
- Aaliyah and Lily both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Lily; Aaliyah doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Aaliyah a "medium" Data Confidence level and Lily a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Aaliyah
Popularity journey
First recorded1996
First recorded at #319 among girls in England and Wales in 1996 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Girls
Highest recorded2001–2023
Highest recorded position: #41 among girls in New Zealand, in 2002 (recorded 2001–2023).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #86 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Lily
Popularity journey
First recorded1981
First recorded at #471 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1981 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1981–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025 (recorded 1981–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #9 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls