Leila vs Lily
Leila 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, Leila was ranked #325 and Lily #1 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Leila was ranked #268 and Lily #2 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Leila was ranked #275 and Lily #4 among girls in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Leila was ranked #302 and Lily #6 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Leila was ranked #409 and Lily #123 among girls in Norway.
Leila and Lily over time
Leila and Lily appear together in 4 published lists, across 92 years of shared records. Lily held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Leila 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.
Leila reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 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.
- Longest-running competitions
Leila and Lily were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #268 and #2.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Leila held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Lily in 30.
Highest recorded here: Leila #132 in 2012, Lily #2 in 2025.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Leila #268, Lily #2.
Republic of Ireland · Girls29 shared years, 1981–2025
Leila held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Lily in 28.
Highest recorded here: Leila #168 in 2011, Lily #1 in 2025.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Leila #325, Lily #1.
Norway · Girls17 shared years, 1997–2025
Leila held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Lily in 14.
Highest recorded here: Leila #344 in 2004, Lily #90 in 2024.
The order changed in 2006: Lily moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #344 and #386; by 2006 that had become #606 and #290.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Leila #409, Lily #123.
Northern Ireland · Girls16 shared years, 2000–2023
Leila held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Lily in 16.
Highest recorded here: Leila #218 in 2018, Lily #5 in 2011.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Leila #302, Lily #6.
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 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
Side by side
| Field | Leila | 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, GB-SCT, IE, NO | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #268 (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)); Leila does not have one recorded yet.
- Leila and Lily both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Lily; Leila doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO.
- The available evidence gives Leila 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
Leila
Popularity journey
First recorded1957
First recorded at #383 among girls in Norway in 1957 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2025
Highest recorded position: #132 among girls in England and Wales, in 2012 (recorded 1996–2025).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #268 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