UK girl's name
Lille
A feminine name of Danish origin meaning "little".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2001. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Lille is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Lille popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2001 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3998, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2001, with 3 births.
This profile covers 3 England and Wales registrations across 1 recorded years from 2001 to 2001. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, 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.
Lille is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 3 living people in the UK are called Lille. 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 2002 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Lille ranked #3998 for girls in England and Wales in 2001, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2001, when 3 girls were registered as Lille.
- • About 3 living people in the UK are estimated to have Lille as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3998
2001
Births in 2001
3
Latest year
Peak year
2001
3 births
Estimated living
3
2026
Meaning
What does Lille mean?
The name Lille has its origins in the Scandinavian languages, specifically Old Norse and Old Danish. It is derived from the Old Norse word "lilja," which means "lily." The name can be traced back to at least the 11th century in Scandinavia.
In Old Norse mythology, the lily flower was associated with purity, beauty, and fertility. The name Lille was likely given to children in hopes that they would embody these qualities. It was a popular name among the Vikings and other Norse peoples, particularly in Denmark and Sweden.
One of the earliest recorded references to the name Lille can be found in the Icelandic Sagas, a collection of stories and historical accounts from the medieval period. In the Saga of Gísli Súrsson, a character named Lille is mentioned as the daughter of a prominent Icelandic chieftain.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals named Lille. One of the earliest was Lille Ulfstand (born around 1458), a Danish noblewoman who served as a lady-in-waiting to Queen Christine of Denmark. Another prominent figure was Lille Johanne Hedevig von Holstein (1636-1699), a German countess and courtier at the court of King Christian V of Denmark.
In the 18th century, Lille Luplau (1728-1805) was a Danish painter and engraver who gained recognition for her skillful portraits and landscapes. A century later, Lille Oppenheim (1858-1931) was a Swedish writer and advocate for women's rights, known for her novels and essays on gender equality.
One of the most famous individuals with the name Lille was Lille Carré (1898-1928), a French aviator and pioneer of commercial aviation. She was the first woman in France to obtain a pilot's license and set several records for long-distance flights in the 1920s.
While the name Lille has its roots in Scandinavia, it has been used across various cultures and regions throughout history, often as a diminutive or nickname for names like Liliana, Lilian, or Lillian. However, its strong connection to the lily flower and its symbolism of purity and beauty has remained a constant thread throughout its long history.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Decades
Lille by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Lille 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | #3998 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Lille
- 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
Lille: questions and answers
How popular is the name Lille in the UK right now?
In 2001, Lille was ranked #3998 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Lille most popular?
The peak year on record was 2001, with 3 babies registered as Lille in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Lille?
A feminine name of Danish origin meaning "little".
How many people are called Lille in the UK?
A total of 3 babies have been registered as Lille across the 1 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
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.