Variant of Lily, from Latin lilium, the flower symbolizing purity.
Lillie is a spelling variant of Lily, a name drawn from the flower whose name passed into English through Latin lilium, itself from Greek leirion. Like many floral names, Lillie carries a long symbolic history: in Christian art and literature, the lily became an emblem of purity, innocence, and renewal, especially in connection with the Virgin Mary. The extra -ie ending gives Lillie a slightly older, softer look, linking it to nineteenth- and early twentieth-century naming fashions in which affectionate spellings like Sallie, Hattie, and Elsie were common.
The name has been borne by notable women in public life, including actresses, writers, and performers, but one of its strongest cultural echoes comes from the broader Victorian and Edwardian world, when flower names became fashionable as expressions of beauty and sentiment. Lillie Langtry, the celebrated British actress and socialite, helped make the name feel glamorous in the late nineteenth century, even though her spelling and fame also tied it to a very specific era of elegance and celebrity. Over time, Lillie has moved in and out of favor beside Lily, Lillian, and Lilian.
Today it feels vintage yet fresh: more ornate than Lily, less formal than Lillian. Literary and visual culture keep the lily symbol alive, so Lillie still carries associations of grace, brightness, and delicacy, while its antique spelling lends it warmth and personality.