We have a 2.5-year-old named [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] (she goes by [name_f]Maggie[/name_f]) and need to pick a name for her sister, who will be here in a week. We’ve decided on [name_f]Claire[/name_f] for a middle name. Can’t decide to go with the classic [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] and have lots of options for nicknames or go with [name_f]Lillian[/name_f] and call her [name_f]Lilly[/name_f]. I’m just not sure whether [name_f]Lillian[/name_f] is going to go up in popularity, which I don’t want to happen. Thoughts?
[name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] is actually more popular than [name_f]Lillian[/name_f] (14 vs 37 on SSA list)
Personally, I like [name_f]Lillian[/name_f] better, and I think [name_f]Lillian[/name_f] [name_f]Claire[/name_f] is darling.
I love [name_f]Lillian[/name_f]! Like [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] it feels strong, sleek but with the potential to be sweet
Lillibeth or Ellian. Honestly I like [name_f]Lizbeth[/name_f] the best but I get why some people wouldn’t.
I prefer [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] and [name_f]Lillian[/name_f]. [name_f]Maggie[/name_f] and [name_f]Lilly[/name_f].
[name_f]Margaret[/name_f] and [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] feel a little obvious and royal.
Both are nice names though 
Another idea would be [name_f]Bethany[/name_f]. [name_f]Maggie[/name_f] and [name_f]Beth[/name_f]
My pick is [name_f]Maggie[/name_f] and [name_f]Lilly[/name_f] (though I prefer [name_f]Lily[/name_f] or [name_f]Lillie[/name_f]). [name_f]Lillian[/name_f] [name_f]Claire[/name_f] is lovely. I agree with pp – [name_f]Lillian[/name_f] feels more unexpected than [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f], but still pairs well. You are going to meet many little Lillys though.
I love [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f], even if it does feel obvious with [name_f]Margaret[/name_f]. They’re both timeless and sound great at any age. [name_f]Lillian[/name_f] is pretty, but I feel like between [name_f]Lily[/name_f]’s, [name_f]Lila[/name_f]’s, and [name_f]Lilliana[/name_f]’s and [name_f]Lillian[/name_f]’s called [name_f]Lily[/name_f], you’ll here it a lot more than [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] or any of its nicknames ([name_f]Betsy[/name_f] is my favorite personally, or [name_f]Libby[/name_f] - [name_f]Libby[/name_f] and [name_f]Maggie[/name_f] definitely sound like sisters!)
Haha good point about the royal factor.
Good point about the royal factor!
[name_f]Lillian[/name_f] is one of my favorite names. It’s so sweet and strong. The nn [name_f]Lilly[/name_f] is so cute, too.
[name_m]Hi[/name_m] there.
[name_f]Margaret[/name_f] nn [name_f]Maggie[/name_f] is classic. I think that either [name_f]Lillian[/name_f] or [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] would be lovely as her sister. [name_f]Lilly[/name_f] and [name_f]Lillian[/name_f] though are super popular. You even get a [name_f]Liliana[/name_f] once & a while, which all in all makes for a whole lot of Lillys. I think that [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] has some less common nn option. There are a bunch of [name_f]Ellie[/name_f]'s running around (even though it’s a cute name), but [name_f]Elsie[/name_f], [name_f]Eliza[/name_f], [name_f]Bess[/name_f], [name_f]Bette[/name_f], [name_f]Tess[/name_f] etc. are less expected options.
[name_f]Hope[/name_f] this helps.
If popularity is a factor, I would check your stated social security baby name list and see which is more popular: across the country as a whole, that name is [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f]. Of course, both names are popular for a reason: they’re classic and lovely. You really can’t go wrong. [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] is the name I won’t get to use and I love it so much. I’m especially fond of [name_f]Lillian[/name_f] with [name_f]Margaret[/name_f], as [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] and [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] does feel a lot like “famous contemporary British ladies.”
I love [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f], but I think [name_f]Lillian[/name_f] [name_f]Claire[/name_f] sounds better, and is charming and proper.
Personally, I’d use [name_f]Lillian[/name_f] and save [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] for a potential third child, because they all go together so well.
[name_f]Lillian[/name_f] [name_f]Claire[/name_f] is so adorable!
I prefer [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f]. It’s a classic that will never lose its appeal and popularity. Like a pp pointed out the main reason is the large number of interesting nicknames from which to choose. I’m a great believer in giving a girl choices. As a young child grows from infancy to adulthood one name is not always enough. It’s nice to have options.
Maggie and [name_f]Libby[/name_f]
[name_f]Maggie[/name_f] and [name_f]Bitsy[/name_f]
[name_f]Maggie[/name_f] and [name_f]Zibby[/name_f]
[name_f]Maggie[/name_f] and [name_f]Bizzy[/name_f]
[name_f]Maggie[/name_f] and [name_f]Liz[/name_f]
[name_f]Maggie[/name_f] and [name_f]Lizzy[/name_f]
[name_f]Maggie[/name_f] and [name_f]Elise[/name_f]
[name_f]Maggie[/name_f] and [name_f]Eliza[/name_f]
[name_f]Maggie[/name_f] and [name_f]Lise[/name_f]
[name_f]Maggie[/name_f] and [name_f]Liesl[/name_f]
[name_f]Maggie[/name_f] and Liesie
[name_f]Maggie[/name_f] and [name_f]Elsa[/name_f]
[name_f]Maggie[/name_f] and [name_f]Elsie[/name_f]
[name_f]Maggie[/name_f] and [name_f]Elle[/name_f]
[name_f]Maggie[/name_f] and [name_f]Bette[/name_f]
[name_f]Maggie[/name_f] and [name_f]Betsy[/name_f]
[name_f]Maggie[/name_f] and Lillibette
[name_f]Maggie[/name_f] and [name_f]Beth[/name_f]
I agree that both are lovely and classic. In my area of the US, [name_f]Lillian[/name_f] and [name_f]Lilly[/name_f] are a little more trendy. You have more options with [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] nicknames, in my opinion. [name_f]Betty[/name_f]/Betsy/Libby/Zibby/Liz/Beth/Elliza/Liza, and … [name_f]Lilly[/name_f]! I would personally go for [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f], which gives you more elasticity over the long haul.
Congratulations!
Both are lovely, though I think all things considered I slightly prefer [name_f]Lillian[/name_f].
Given you have pros/cons for both, and they both go with [name_f]Margaret[/name_f], which do you prefer to say? Because you’ll be saying it a lot and I think this is important!
While both are great, I love [name_f]Lillian[/name_f] [name_f]Claire[/name_f] “[name_f]Lilly[/name_f]” just that bit more.
What about [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] nn [name_f]Lilla[/name_f]? [name_f]Lilla[/name_f] is originally a nickname for [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] and this seems like a compromise…
I vote for [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f].