Lilou is a French female given name. It is rising in popularity in France, where it is ranked in the top 50 names given to baby girls. It may have originated as a short form of names ending in the sound "lee" such as Aurélie, Amélie, Aline, Élise, Élie, Coralie, or Liliane, following the French way of forming short forms of names by adding the suffix "ou" to affectionate names. It is also said to be an Occitan language version of the name Lily, originally spelled Liló in that language. It was not registered as a formal name in France prior to 1997, when 19 girls named Lilou, nine girls named Leeloo and four girls named Leelou were registered. The spelling Lylou is also used. Short forms of names have become increasingly popular as formal names in France as well as elsewhere in Europe.