Amber vs Lily
Amber 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, Amber was ranked #148 and Lily #1 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Amber was ranked #122 and Lily #3 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Amber was ranked #90 and Lily #4 among girls in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Amber was ranked #179 and Lily #6 among girls in Northern Ireland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2023, Amber was ranked #90 and Lily #7 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2011, Amber was ranked #100 and Lily #14 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Amber and Lily over time
Amber and Lily appear together in 5 published lists, across 130 years of shared records. Lily held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Amber in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 5 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Amber 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 2001, Lily moved ahead of Amber in England and Wales · Girls — #37 and #45 the year before became #36 and #35.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in England and Wales · Girls, Amber and Lily averaged 48.0 places apart, ending at #122 and #3.
- Mirrored each other
Over 26 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Lily rose about as far as Amber fell — from #47 and #84 in 1997 to #90 and #7 in 2023.
- Longest-running competitions
Amber and Lily were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 34 years, from 1991 to 2025, ending at #148 and #1.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls34 shared years, 1991–2025
Amber held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Lily in 25.
Highest recorded here: Amber #53 in 2014, Lily #1 in 2025.
The order changed in 2001: Lily moved ahead. In 2000 they stood at #84 and #120; by 2001 that had become #100 and #91.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Amber #148, Lily #1.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Amber held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Lily in 24.
Highest recorded here: Amber #31 in 1998, Lily #3 in 2011.
The order changed in 2001: Lily moved ahead. In 2000 they stood at #37 and #45; by 2001 that had become #36 and #35.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Amber #122, Lily #3.
New Zealand · Girls26 shared years, 1997–2023
Amber held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Lily in 23.
Highest recorded here: Amber #29 in 2001, Lily #6 in 2008.
The order changed in 2000: Lily moved ahead. In 1999 they stood at #49 and #63; by 2000 that had become #38 and #35.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Amber #90, Lily #7.
Northern Ireland · Girls26 shared years, 1999–2024
Amber held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Lily in 20.
Highest recorded here: Amber #50 in 2014, Lily #5 in 2011.
The order changed in 2006: Lily moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #70 and #114; by 2006 that had become #70 and #52.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Amber #179, Lily #6.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls15 shared years, 1997–2011
Amber held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Lily in 14.
Highest recorded here: Amber #39 in 2001, Lily #7 in 2010.
The order changed in 1998: Lily moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #59 and #78; by 1998 that had become #62 and #56.
Most recent shared year, 2011: Amber #100, Lily #14.
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 | Amber | 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 #148 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #1 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 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)); Amber does not have one recorded yet.
- Amber and Lily both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Lily; Amber 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 Amber 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
Amber
Popularity journey
First recorded1970
First recorded at #447 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1970 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1978–2023
Highest recorded position: #29 among girls in New Zealand, in 2001 (recorded 1978–2023).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #148 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