Meaning and Origin
What does the name Lilac mean? Keep reading to find the user submitted meanings, dictionary definitions, and more.
Origin and Meaning of Lilac
User Submitted Origins
English
50%
American
25%
Hebrew
15%
Latin
5%
Spanish
5%
User Submitted Meanings
- A submission from the United Kingdom says the name Lilac means "To live and care for someone".
- According to a user from Ohio, U.S., the name Lilac means "Flower".
International Interest
Also see international interest
Webster's Unabridged Dictionary
noun Li"lac
Senses
- [Bot] A shrub of the genus Syringa. There are six species, natives of Europe and Asia. Syringa vulgaris, the common lilac, and Syringa Persica, the Persian lilac, are frequently cultivated for the fragrance and beauty of their purplish or white flowers. In the British colonies various other shrubs have this name.
- A light purplish color like that of the flower of the purplish lilac.
Etymology: Sp. lilac lila, Ar. līlak, fr. Per. līlaj līlanj līlang nīlaj nīl, the indigo plant, or from the kindred līlak bluish, the flowers being named from the color. Cf. Anil
Other Dictionary Sources
- Any of various plants of the genus Syringa having large panicles of usually fragrant flowers
- Of a pale purple color
Wiktionary
From obsolete French lilac (now lilas), from Arabic لِيلَك (līlak).
- A large shrub of the genus Syringa, especially Syringa vulgaris, bearing white, pale-pink, or purple flowers.
- A flower of the lilac shrub.
- (color) A pale purple color, the color of some lilac flowers.
- lilac colour:
lilac was also found in the following language(s): French