Lian is a unisex name with a modern feel, drawn from real birth records. Below you'll find what Lian means and where it comes from, plus how many babies have been named Lian across the United States, UK, Ireland and New Zealand, how popular Lian has been over the decades, and the year it peaked.
Lian is a unisex name of Chinese origin meaning “lotus, graceful willow”. A Chinese name, also used elsewhere as a short form of Lillian.
| Country | Births on record |
|---|---|
| United States since 1880 | 5,705 births |
| England & Wales since 1996 | 328 births |
| Scotland since 1974 | 7 births |
| Ireland since 1964 | 6 births |
Counts come from official national birth-registration statistics: U.S. Social Security Administration, England & Wales (Office for National Statistics), Scotland (National Records of Scotland), Northern Ireland (NISRA), Ireland (Central Statistics Office) and New Zealand (Dept. of Internal Affairs). Coverage spans differ, so totals aren't directly comparable across countries.
Babies named Lian per year, United States (1957 to 2025). United States peaked in 2025 (794/yr) · England & Wales peaked in 2025 (31/yr) · Scotland peaked in 1979 (4/yr) · Ireland peaked in 2024 (3/yr).
Lian has been a fairly common baby name in the United States. It was most common in 2025, when it ranked #808 nationally (given to 828 babies that year).
Lynn · Leon · Lana · Luann · Lane · Leanne · Luanne · Leann
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