NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Lilu

A feminine name from the movie "The Fifth Element", possibly inspired by Lilith.

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2018. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Lilu is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Lilu popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2018 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5666, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2016, with 3 births.

This profile covers 6 England and Wales registrations across 2 recorded years from 2016 to 2018. 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.

The latest count is about 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 6 living people in the UK are called Lilu. 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 2019 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Lilu ranked #5666 for girls in England and Wales in 2018, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2016, when 3 girls were registered as Lilu.
  • About 6 living people in the UK are estimated to have Lilu as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#5666

2018

Births in 2018

3

Latest year

Peak year

2016

3 births

Estimated living

6

2026

Meaning

What does Lilu mean?

The name Lilu is believed to have originated in ancient Sumerian civilization, one of the earliest known civilizations in the world, dating back to around 4000 BCE. It is derived from the Sumerian word "lil," which means "air" or "wind." The name was likely given to children in the hopes that they would possess qualities associated with the wind, such as freedom, lightness, and fluidity.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Lilu can be found in the Epic of Gilgamesh, a Sumerian epic poem that is considered one of the oldest known works of literature. In the epic, Lilu is mentioned as a female demon or spirit who is associated with storms and winds.

During the ancient Babylonian period, which spanned from around 1900 BCE to 539 BCE, the name Lilu was also known and used. It is mentioned in several Babylonian texts and inscriptions, often in reference to deities or spirits associated with the wind and storms.

In ancient Greek mythology, there is a figure named Lilith, which is a similar name to Lilu. Lilith is portrayed as a demonic figure or a female spirit who is often associated with the night and darkness. However, it is unclear whether the Greek Lilith is directly related to the Sumerian Lilu or if the similarity in names is merely a coincidence.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Lilu was a Sumerian priestess who lived around 2500 BCE. She is mentioned in several cuneiform tablets that detail her role in religious ceremonies and rituals.

Another notable figure with the name Lilu was a Babylonian princess who lived during the reign of King Nebuchadnezzar II, around 600 BCE. She is mentioned in several historical records and is said to have been a influential figure in the Babylonian court.

In ancient Indian literature, there is a character named Lilu who appears in the Mahabharata, one of the two major Sanskrit epics. In the epic, Lilu is depicted as a celestial nymph or apsara who is known for her beauty and grace.

During the medieval period, the name Lilu was also used in several regions of the Middle East and North Africa. One notable individual with this name was Lilu al-Qadiri, a renowned scholar and philosopher who lived in Baghdad during the 10th century CE.

Another influential figure with the name Lilu was Lilu al-Andalusi, a Moorish poet and writer who lived in Spain during the 11th century CE. She is known for her contributions to the literary and cultural traditions of the Andalusian region.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Lilu over time

The chart below shows babies named Lilu registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2016 to 2018. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Lilu, the clearest high point is 2016. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2018, compared with 3 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Lilu
01223201620172018

Decades

Lilu by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Lilu 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
2010s #5726 6 2

Related

Names similar to Lilu

FAQ

Lilu: questions and answers

How popular is the name Lilu in the UK right now?

In 2018, Lilu was ranked #5666 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Lilu most popular?

The peak year on record was 2016, with 3 babies registered as Lilu in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Lilu?

A feminine name from the movie "The Fifth Element", possibly inspired by Lilith.

How many people are called Lilu in the UK?

A total of 6 babies have been registered as Lilu across the 2 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.