Leanne vs Lily
Leanne 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, Leanne was ranked #2115 and Lily #3 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2021, Leanne was ranked #883 and Lily #9 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2010, Leanne was ranked #366 and Lily #15 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Leanne and Lily over time
Leanne and Lily appear together in 3 published lists, across 71 years of shared records. Lily held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Leanne in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Leanne 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.
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 Leanne in Northern Ireland · Girls — #158 and #282 the year before became #176 and #176.
- Longest-running competitions
Leanne and Lily were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 32 years, from 1981 to 2021, ending at #883 and #9.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #88 and #85 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2024 they were #2115 and #3.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls32 shared years, 1981–2021
Leanne held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Lily in 19.
Highest recorded here: Leanne #27 in 1988, Lily #5 in 2011.
The order changed in 2003: Lily moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #74 and #85; by 2003 that had become #80 and #75.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Leanne #883, Lily #9.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Leanne held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Lily in 29.
Highest recorded here: Leanne #88 in 1996, Lily #3 in 2011.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Leanne #2115, Lily #3.
Northern Ireland · Girls10 shared years, 1999–2010
Leanne held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Lily in 7.
Highest recorded here: Leanne #119 in 1999, Lily #15 in 2010.
The order changed in 2001: Lily moved ahead. In 2000 they stood at #158 and #282; by 2001 that had become #176 and #176.
Most recent shared year, 2010: Leanne #366, 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 | Leanne | 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, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #2115 (2024) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #1 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 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)); Leanne does not have one recorded yet.
- Leanne and Lily both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Lily; Leanne doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Leanne 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
Leanne
Popularity journey
First recorded1957
First recorded at #96 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1957 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1957–1986
Highest recorded position: #6 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1968 (recorded 1957–1986).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2115 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
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 #9 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls