Lillian (name) definition

Used since the sixteenth century, possibly originally a pet form of Elizabeth, but generally accepted as a variant of Late Latin lilium "lily".

Lila, Lil, Lili, Lilia, Liliana, Liliane, Liliane, Lilias, Lilli, Lillia, Lilianna, Lilliana, Lilliane, Lilliann, Lillianna, Lillianne, Lillie, Lilly, Lillyan, Lillyanne, Lily, Lilyan, Lilyann.

1836 Adeline Sergeant: Lillian Lee:

Your mother's name was Lillian, Minnie Lee,

Her other name I never heard, until

I stood within the church and saw her wed

So she is ever Lillian Lee to me.
1907 Lewis Clinton Strang: Famous Prima Donnas. L.C.Page&Co, 1907. page 33:

Lillian Russell was christened Helen Louise Leonard. Tony Pastor gave her the name Lillian Russell, for the very practical reason, I believe, that it had so many "l's" in it, and consequently would look well on a bill-board.

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