Iman vs Lily
Iman 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.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Iman was ranked #603 and Lily #3 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2020, Iman was ranked #700 and Lily #12 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2006, Iman was ranked #384 and Lily #52 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Iman was ranked #374 and Lily #123 among girls in Norway.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2011, Iman was ranked #1788 and Lily #4647 among boys in England and Wales.
Iman and Lily over time
Iman and Lily appear together in 3 published lists, across 67 years of shared records. Lily held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Iman 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.
Iman reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 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.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Iman held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Lily in 29.
Highest recorded here: Iman #284 in 2004, Lily #3 in 2011.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Iman #603, Lily #3.
Norway · Girls26 shared years, 1994–2025
Iman held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Lily in 18.
Highest recorded here: Iman #220 in 2009, Lily #90 in 2024.
The order changed in 2008: Lily moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #273 and #296; by 2008 that had become #280 and #262.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Iman #374, Lily #123.
Republic of Ireland · Girls12 shared years, 1999–2020
Iman held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Lily in 12.
Highest recorded here: Iman #392 in 1999, Lily #12 in 2020.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2020: Iman #700, Lily #12.
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 | Iman | 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 | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #374 (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)); Iman does not have one recorded yet.
- Iman and Lily both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Lily; Iman doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO.
- The available evidence gives Iman 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
Iman
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #467 among girls in Norway in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #220 among girls in Norway, in 2009 (recorded 1964–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #374 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · 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