Abby vs Lily
Abby 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, Abby was ranked #443 and Lily #1 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Abby was ranked #1819 and Lily #3 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Abby was ranked #351 and Lily #4 among girls in Scotland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2010, Abby was ranked #97 and Lily #7 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2009, Abby was ranked #79 and Lily #8 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2021, Abby was ranked #298 and Lily #14 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Abby and Lily over time
Abby and Lily appear together in 5 published lists, across 100 years of shared records. Lily held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Abby 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.
Abby reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, and Lily in none. 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 2004, Lily moved ahead of Abby in Northern Ireland · Girls — #62 and #79 the year before became #85 and #70.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Abby and Lily changed places 4 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1994 and 2025, ending at #443 and #1.
- Mirrored each other
Over 20 shared years in Northern Ireland · Girls, Lily rose about as far as Abby fell — from #167 and #344 in 1999 to #298 and #14 in 2021.
- Longest-running competitions
Abby and Lily were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 32 years, from 1994 to 2025, ending at #443 and #1.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls32 shared years, 1994–2025
Abby held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Lily in 26.
Highest recorded here: Abby #55 in 2004, Lily #1 in 2025.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Abby #443, Lily #1.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Abby held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Lily in 29.
Highest recorded here: Abby #100 in 2002, Lily #3 in 2011.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Abby #1819, Lily #3.
Northern Ireland · Girls20 shared years, 1999–2021
Abby held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Lily in 14.
Highest recorded here: Abby #62 in 2003, Lily #5 in 2011.
The order changed in 2004: Lily moved ahead. In 2003 they stood at #62 and #79; by 2004 that had become #85 and #70.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Abby #298, Lily #14.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls10 shared years, 1999–2010
Abby held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Lily in 10.
Highest recorded here: Abby #69 in 2004, Lily #7 in 2010.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2010: Abby #97, Lily #7.
New Zealand · Girls9 shared years, 2001–2009
Abby held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Lily in 9.
Highest recorded here: Abby #59 in 2001, Lily #6 in 2008.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2009: Abby #79, Lily #8.
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.
Side by side
| Field | Abby | 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 | Republic of Ireland · Girls #443 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #1 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 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)); Abby does not have one recorded yet.
- Abby and Lily both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Lily; Abby 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 Abby 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
Abby
Popularity journey
First recorded1990
First recorded at #446 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1990 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1990–2025
Highest recorded position: #55 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2004 (recorded 1990–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #443 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · 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