Bethany vs Lily
Bethany and Lily compared 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, Bethany was ranked #544 and Lily #1 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Bethany was ranked #585 and Lily #2 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Bethany was ranked #384 and Lily #4 among girls in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Bethany was ranked #253 and Lily #6 among girls in Northern Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2004, Bethany was ranked #100 and Lily #16 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Bethany and Lily over time
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Bethany and Lily over time
Bethany and Lily appear together in 4 published lists, across 97 years of shared records. Lily held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Bethany in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 4 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Bethany reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 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 took the other's place near the top
In Northern Ireland · Girls, Lily moved into the top 50 at #34 in 2007 as Bethany fell out of it to #68, having been #50 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2003, Lily moved ahead of Bethany in England and Wales · Girls — #17 and #28 the year before became #24 and #23.
- Longest-running competitions
Bethany and Lily were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #585 and #2.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls33 shared years, 1991–2025
Bethany held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Lily in 30.
Highest recorded here: Bethany #179 in 2003, Lily #1 in 2025.
The order changed in 1997: Lily moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #393 and #534; by 1997 that had become #440 and #254.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Bethany #544, Lily #1.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Bethany held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Lily in 23.
Highest recorded here: Bethany #11 in 1999, Lily #2 in 2025.
The order changed in 2003: Lily moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #17 and #28; by 2003 that had become #24 and #23.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Bethany #585, Lily #2.
Northern Ireland · Girls26 shared years, 1999–2024
Bethany held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Lily in 18.
Highest recorded here: Bethany #33 in 2000, Lily #5 in 2011.
The order changed in 2007: Lily moved ahead. In 2006 they stood at #50 and #52; by 2007 that had become #68 and #34.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Bethany #253, Lily #6.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls8 shared years, 1997–2004
Bethany held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Lily in 7.
Highest recorded here: Bethany #73 in 1997, Lily #16 in 2003.
The order changed in 1998: Lily moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #73 and #78; by 1998 that had become #73 and #56.
Most recent shared year, 2004: Bethany #100, Lily #16.
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 Bethany
Pairs where Bethany shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Shannon vs Bethany
In 1996 they stood at #11 and #13 in England and Wales · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2025 they were #2138 and #585.
Shannon · Bethany · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Danielle vs Bethany
In 1996 they stood at #20 and #13 in England and Wales · Girls, 7 places apart; by 2025 they were #1454 and #585.
Danielle · Bethany · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Lauren vs Bethany
In 1996 they stood at #5 and #13 in England and Wales · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2025 they were #1166 and #585.
Lauren · Bethany · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Bethany vs Eleanor
In 1996 they stood at #13 and #22 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #585 and #56.
Bethany · Eleanor · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Other comparisons involving Lily
Pairs where Lily shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Lily vs Nicola
In 1996 they stood at #85 and #87 in England and Wales · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2025 they were #2 and #4201.
Lily · Nicola · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Lily vs Rachael
In 1996 they stood at #85 and #77 in England and Wales · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2025 they were #2 and #3705.
Lily · Rachael · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · 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 2025 they were #2 and #2006.
Lily · Leanne · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · 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 2025 they were #2 and #1362.
Lily · Claire · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — one took the other's place near the top.
- Sean vs Adam
In Republic of Ireland · Boys, Adam moved into the top 50 at #9 in 2018 as Sean fell out of it to #74, having been #5 the year before.
Sean · Adam · 61 shared years, 1965–2025 · One took the other's place near the top
- Charlie vs Oisin
In Republic of Ireland · Boys, Charlie moved into the top 50 at #10 in 2018 as Oisin fell out of it to #247, having been #11 the year before.
Charlie · Oisin · 33 shared years, 1983–2025 · One took the other's place near the top
- Sean vs Charlie
In Republic of Ireland · Boys, Charlie moved into the top 50 at #10 in 2018 as Sean fell out of it to #74, having been #5 the year before.
Sean · Charlie · 33 shared years, 1983–2025 · One took the other's place near the top
- Sean vs Liam
In Republic of Ireland · Boys, Liam moved into the top 50 at #11 in 2018 as Sean fell out of it to #74, having been #5 the year before.
Sean · Liam · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · One took the other's place near the top
Other pairs from Northern Ireland lists
Pairs measured inside Northern Ireland's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.
- Charlotte vs Jodie
In 1997 they stood at #72 and #77 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2021 they were #13 and #446.
Charlotte · Jodie · 23 shared years, 1997–2021 · Started together, ended far apart
- Emily vs Rachael
In 1997 they stood at #32 and #25 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 7 places apart; by 2017 they were #1 and #432.
Emily · Rachael · 19 shared years, 1997–2017 · Started together, ended far apart
- Grace vs Fiona
In 1997 they stood at #57 and #66 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2017 they were #2 and #432.
Grace · Fiona · 18 shared years, 1997–2017 · Started together, ended far apart
- Oliver vs Colin
In 1997 they stood at #100 and #96 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2021 they were #5 and #433.
Oliver · Colin · 21 shared years, 1997–2021 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.
- Grace vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #41 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #27 and #4867.
Grace · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ella vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #46 and #4867.
Ella · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jasmine vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #55 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #102 and #4867.
Jasmine · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #142 and #4867.
Anna · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Bethany | 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 | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Lil, Lilah, Lillie, Lilly, Lilian |
| Recorded regional usage | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #544 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #1 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Lily has a recorded origin (English (flower name)); Bethany does not have one recorded yet.
- Bethany has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Lily.
- A meaning is recorded for Lily; Bethany doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
- The available evidence gives Bethany 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
Bethany
Popularity journey
First recorded1991
First recorded at #457 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1991 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2025
Highest recorded position: #11 among girls in England and Wales, in 1999 (recorded 1996–2025).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #585 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