UK girl's name
Lile
A feminine variant form of Lillian in English.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2021. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Lile is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Lile popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2021 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5581, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2011, with 4 births.
This profile covers 10 England and Wales registrations across 3 recorded years from 2011 to 2021. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NISRA Northern Ireland, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 75% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 27 living people in the UK are called Lile. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2022 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Lile ranked #5581 for girls in England and Wales in 2021, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2011, when 4 girls were registered as Lile.
- • Lile ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #418 in 2022.
- • About 27 living people in the UK are estimated to have Lile as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5581
2021
Births in 2021
3
Latest year
Peak year
2011
4 births
Estimated living
27
2026
Meaning
What does Lile mean?
The name Lile has its origins in the Old Norse language, where it was derived from the word "lilja," meaning "lily." This name was particularly popular among the Vikings and other Scandinavian peoples during the Middle Ages.
In ancient Norse mythology, the lily flower was associated with purity, beauty, and fertility. It was believed to hold symbolic power and was often used in rituals and celebrations. The name Lile, therefore, carried connotations of grace, elegance, and renewal.
One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Lile dates back to the 12th century, when it appeared in the Icelandic Sagas, a collection of stories and historical accounts from the Viking era. In these texts, Lile was often used as a feminine name, reflecting the reverence for the lily flower in Norse culture.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Lile. In the 14th century, Lile Thorvaldsdóttir (c. 1320 - 1390) was a renowned Icelandic poet and scholar, renowned for her contributions to Old Norse literature. Her work was instrumental in preserving the rich cultural heritage of the Vikings.
In the 16th century, Lile Eriksdotter (c. 1510 - 1580) was a Swedish noblewoman and landowner, known for her involvement in the Swedish Reformation and her support for the Protestant movement in Scandinavia.
Moving into the 19th century, Lile Stenbock (1835 - 1911) was a Swedish artist and painter, renowned for her vibrant landscapes and portraits. Her work was highly influential in the Swedish art scene of the time.
Another notable figure was Lile Poulsen (1890 - 1972), a Danish architect and designer who played a crucial role in the development of modern Danish design. Her work blended traditional Scandinavian aesthetics with contemporary influences.
In more recent times, Lile Baver (1925 - 2010) was a Norwegian author and children's book writer, whose works captured the imagination of generations of young readers. Her stories often drew inspiration from Norse folklore and mythology.
While the name Lile has its roots in ancient Scandinavian cultures, its enduring popularity and various spellings have allowed it to transcend geographical boundaries and cultural contexts, making it a timeless and meaningful choice for parents around the world.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Lile over time
The chart below shows babies named Lile registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2011 to 2021. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Lile, the clearest high point is 2011. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2021, compared with 4 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Lile by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Lile was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #5581 | 3 | 1 |
| 2010s | #5215 | 7 | 2 |
Geography
Where Lile is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Lile. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.
Lile ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #418 in 2022.
Across the UK
Lile in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland (NISRA)
#418 in 2022
5 years of NISRA records, 17 total registered
Related
Names similar to Lile
- Lily 72,956
- Lucy 70,663
- Lauren 50,664
- Leah 33,185
- Lola 24,525
- Layla 24,520
- Laura 23,471
- Lilly 21,714
- Lydia 18,353
- Libby 14,515
- Lara 13,415
- Lacey 13,406
FAQ
Lile: questions and answers
How popular is the name Lile in the UK right now?
In 2021, Lile was ranked #5581 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Lile most popular?
The peak year on record was 2011, with 4 babies registered as Lile in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Lile?
A feminine variant form of Lillian in English.
How many people are called Lile in the UK?
A total of 10 babies have been registered as Lile across the 3 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here and 17 in Northern Ireland.
Where is Lile most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Lile ranks best in Northern Ireland, where it placed #418 in 2022. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.