Popularity aside, thoughts on Lily?

[Hightide1]

Just as the title says really. I know Lily is very popular but what do people think? I love that it's simple, classic and doesn't particularly stereotype a person (imo Lily could be from any class - for want of a better description, and age as it has been popular for some time). BUT I do care what people think, so please share your honest opinion.

OP, I’m a name nerd and I love Lily. Fair warning, people annoyingly spell Lily like Lilly a lot, so if that’s going to irk you, I’d say don’t go for it.

You said Lily is divisive, but if you look at nearly most names posited before the Mumsnet crowd, they all are usually eviscerated by someone at some point. And then more people join in on the slaughter. So... don’t get too worried, it’s a predictable trend. As long as the name isn’t offensive to the extreme, don’t drive yourself crazy in search of the “perfect” name.

What I’ll tell you is that the most popular names on Mumsnet are Anna and Eleanor. If you want a name that’s almost immune from criticism, choose one of these two. Now personally, I find Anna a bit nasally/frumpy, but most don’t think that. And despite my reservations, Anna’s still on my list because tis lovely and bright 💕 As for Eleanor, it’s about one of the chunkiest names I’ve ever imagined, way more so than Anna, but it rakes in huge fanfare among naming circles.

Everyone has criticisms about every name. Even the two names above aren’t perfect, but from my layman deductions, you’ll receive the best responses if you use them.

Alternatives to Lily from someone who also loves Lily:

Laura
Julia
Caroline
Sophie (has been accused of being “wet,” though)
Charlotte (some say downmarket)
Natalie
Talia (Tall-yuh)
Emma
Rebecca
Celia (but close to cilia)
Elise
Flora
Gwyneth (obvs celebrity association)
Meredith
Sabrina

Having experienced it myself I wouldn’t give a child a name which had been as explosively popular as Lily on its way back down the charts. She will always be 10-15 years too young for her name.

I think it’s lovely.

Lily’s are legion in the 10- 15 age group. Every friendship group seems to have at least one.

Lily / Eve type names Isabel type names / Amelia are the Sarah / Claire / Rachel equivalents in my generation

Lovely name, not in any way “downmarket” and weirdly not that popular where I live. My relative has a Lily and she was the only one in her primary school and currently the only one in her year at high school. I think names can be very regional though. For example, the school my eldest goes to you can’t swing a cat without hitting a Caitlin but my niece doesn’t know a single one.

It's a lovely name and not as popular as it once was

As an 80s Helen I can confirm it is not ideal to have a formerly very popular name on its way back down the charts. No others in my schools, as per the MN obsession, but masses once I started work. Having to become Helen Surname at the age of 23. A 2021 Lily would be in a very similar position.

It's a lovely name, albeit a popular one. I'm a teacher so I think quite a lot about names. My only bugbears are those with unusual spelling (poor child will always have to spell out their name) or where there can be two pronunciations which they will always have to specify- "I'm not Ay-va, im Ah-va" sort of thing. Beyond that it's all just personal taste, and within 5 minutes anyone decent will reflect on the child/person and not their name.
Popularity also isn't necessarily a blight for life. My name was in the top 5 in the year I was born and had plummeted now. I was the only person in my school year at both primary and secondary school eith that name. I like my name, and was named for a lovely family member - I imagine if mumsnet had existed at the time my name would have sparked derision as boring and unimaginative....

I love Lily.

If we'd had a girl she'd have been Lilyana shortened to Lily but of o had a daughter and DH got no say I'd have Lilith shortened to Lily.

Go Lilith

It's my name, and i love it. I very rarely get Lil or Lils and don't mind it.

Lilith is a great name.

@Hightide1 I really think it's gorgeous. I posted on here a little while ago about the name Ella with similar feelings you have for Lily - and I similarly think it is simple, classic, beautiful and absolutely timeless. She could be 2, 20 or 90 and any type of person. I totally disagree with it being twee or boring, I think there's an obsession with long, fancy and unnecessarily frilly girls names and there's something classy about something simple yet pretty like Lily. Definitely go for it! I've also been a teacher for 11 years in a primary school and never once taught a Lily! I also don't know a single one in my extended friendship group in which there are at least 30 children. So I don't think it's super popular or over used.

Very pretty name and not boring at all. My great nan was ‘wartime’ her name was iris lilian and called herself lily all her life. She was as opposite to downmarket as you can probably get. I also have a 24 year old lily who works for me who is very posh if anything. Her sisters are Martha and Matilda. It is a classic name. I know it’s popular, but I think the surge of popularity was a few years ago now. It’s not going to be as common as all the olivias, Emma’s etc etc. If you like it I wouldn’t allow these comments to put you off 💞

My middle name is Lily, and I loved it as a child and would often cry to my mum about why she didn’t give it to me as a first name :( now I can’t stand it and never use it on anything. I find it a bit dull and twee, a very English name- everyone seems to be called Lily. It’s all down to personal preference though, and I do agree that it’s a name which doesn’t particularly stereotype someone in terms of class.

Such a pretty elegant name . Yes chose Lily if you so wish .

Choose

Its the only flower name I like

It’s not a very strong name. Makes me think of lily-livered!