Amy vs Lily
Amy 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, Amy was ranked #138 and Lily #1 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Amy was ranked #366 and Lily #2 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Amy was ranked #275 and Lily #4 among girls in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Amy was ranked #253 and Lily #6 among girls in Northern Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2012, Amy was ranked #90 and Lily #15 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2012, Amy was ranked #82 and Lily #15 among girls in New Zealand.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Amy was ranked #457 and Lily #123 among girls in Norway.
Amy and Lily over time
Amy and Lily appear together in 6 published lists, across 145 years of shared records. Lily held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Amy in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 6 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Amy reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 6 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 2005, Lily moved ahead of Amy in England and Wales · Girls — #13 and #16 the year before became #17 and #16.
- Mirrored each other
Over 36 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Lily rose about as far as Amy fell — from #72 and #471 in 1981 to #138 and #1 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Amy and Lily were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #366 and #2.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls36 shared years, 1981–2025
Amy held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Lily in 15.
Highest recorded here: Amy #4 in 2004, Lily #1 in 2025.
The order changed in 2010: Lily moved ahead. In 2009 they stood at #11 and #20; by 2010 that had become #14 and #14.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Amy #138, Lily #1.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Amy held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Lily in 21.
Highest recorded here: Amy #9 in 1996, Lily #2 in 2025.
The order changed in 2005: Lily moved ahead. In 2004 they stood at #13 and #16; by 2005 that had become #17 and #16.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Amy #366, Lily #2.
Northern Ireland · Girls26 shared years, 1999–2024
Amy held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Lily in 15.
Highest recorded here: Amy #5 in 2003, Lily #5 in 2011.
The order changed in 2010: Lily moved ahead. In 2009 they stood at #16 and #28; by 2010 that had become #26 and #15.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Amy #253, Lily #6.
Norway · Girls22 shared years, 1994–2025
Amy held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Lily in 17.
Highest recorded here: Amy #269 in 2008, Lily #106 in 2023.
The order changed in 2007: Lily moved ahead. In 2006 they stood at #272 and #290; by 2007 that had become #366 and #296.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Amy #457, Lily #123.
New Zealand · Girls16 shared years, 1997–2012
Amy held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Lily in 11.
Highest recorded here: Amy #13 in 2000, Lily #6 in 2008.
The order changed in 2002: Lily moved ahead. In 2001 they stood at #18 and #27; by 2002 that had become #24 and #21.
Most recent shared year, 2012: Amy #82, Lily #15.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls15 shared years, 1997–2012
Amy held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Lily in 9.
Highest recorded here: Amy #14 in 1997, Lily #7 in 2010.
The order changed in 2003: Lily moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #18 and #23; by 2003 that had become #27 and #16.
Most recent shared year, 2012: Amy #90, Lily #15.
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 | Amy | 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 | /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, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #138 (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)); Amy does not have one recorded yet.
- Amy and Lily both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Lily; Amy doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Amy 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
Amy
Popularity journey
First recorded1965
First recorded at #262 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1965 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1975–2012
Highest recorded position: #4 among girls in New Zealand, in 1984 (recorded 1975–2012).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #366 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · 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 #2 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls