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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

What's more classic Lily or Leah?

67 replies

hcarter8 · 28/10/2023 14:59

Dd is due in 8 weeks and we are torn between these two names. Technically both are pretty timeless, Leah is a biblical name and Lily has been used for hundreds of years so you can't really go wrong with either but I would appreciate some of your thoughts about each name.

Which one do you prefer? I'm really struggling to decide

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mathanxiety · 28/10/2023 18:13

@viques
Yes, it's one of those very subtle jokes in Fraser.

Strokethefurrywall · 28/10/2023 18:10

Leah by far. It's beautiful

Sealover123 · 28/10/2023 17:58

Out of the 2 I would say Leah, there are just sooooo many Lily's.

However.... Leah means weary and she has a sad story in the Bible.

How about Lena? (Light, Pledge, Bright One, Moonlight) Or Leona? (Lioness) Or Lina (garden)? Also Lia (dependence)

These are all Christian derived and sound quite classic

viques · 28/10/2023 17:48

theduchessofspork · 28/10/2023 17:12

Lilith is a demon 👿

I don’t like either OP to be honest.

How about Lois?

Show quote history

I never knew that, I assumed she was one of those wives of…… . I wonder if that is why they called Fraser’s wife Lilith in the sitcom?

Rosykitten · 28/10/2023 17:35

Lily is more classic IMO even though Leah is biblical.

How about Lilia for the Lily sound but a bit different?

Headingforholidays · 28/10/2023 17:31

Leah - good for any age and far less common than Lily.

Blackandwhitemakesgrey · 28/10/2023 17:27

Lily.

GonnaGetGoingReturns · 28/10/2023 17:26

I mean my nana’s new stepmother was called Lily so she chose not to use it anymore and used her middle name (Jean).

GonnaGetGoingReturns · 28/10/2023 17:25

Theproofofthepudding · 28/10/2023 15:41

How out Lillian?

Lillian was my nana’s first name and she was called Lily up until 15 when her DM died and she had a stepmother who was called Lily.

ThreeCanKeepASecret · 28/10/2023 17:25

I prefer Leah.

What about Lucilla?

geoger · 28/10/2023 17:24

I prefer Lily. When o think of the name Leah I think of the biblical phrase ‘three Leah’s to get one Rachel’

Breadahead · 28/10/2023 17:23

Leah, it's biblical

Dotcheck · 28/10/2023 17:22

Leah- definitely

Medlady · 28/10/2023 17:19

I know a Lillia, which is kind of both

Bournetilly · 28/10/2023 17:13

I prefer Lily

theduchessofspork · 28/10/2023 17:12

viques · 28/10/2023 15:02

You could go for Lilith which is both biblical and a bit like Lily.

Lilith is a demon 👿

I don’t like either OP to be honest.

How about Lois?

LambMomo · 28/10/2023 17:09

Leah, I love it.

Lily is so overused it’s become dull. Especially if she’s going to be just another Lily May/Lily Rose or Lily Grace.

etmoietmoietmoi · 28/10/2023 16:50

I'd say Leah is more classic - as an obvious biblical name - but much prefer Lily.

muckandnettles · 28/10/2023 16:49

I've always liked Leah as it's a family name, but I do remember that when I was little I thought my Aunty Leah was actually 'Leer' because that's how everyone said it. Lily is lovely though!

HappiDaze · 28/10/2023 16:47

I like Lily

IsadoraQuagmire · 28/10/2023 16:46

Lily is more common, but much prettier.

sipsqueak · 28/10/2023 16:39

I have a fundamental problem with Leah because I never know if it's meant to be pronounced "Lee" or Lee-ah". My brain always assumes the latter but I suspect that's wrong?

Findyourneutralspace · 28/10/2023 16:33

Leah is a beautiful name. Elegant and less well used. Lily is also lovely but very popular.
I’d chose Leah.

RuthW · 28/10/2023 16:31

Leah is much nicer.

Theproofofthepudding · 28/10/2023 15:41

How out Lillian?

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