Lilo

A short form of Liselotte; its meaning is inherited through the names Elisabeth and Charlotte, not a separate word.

Lilo is a German feminine short form of Liselotte or Lieselotte. The longer name brings together Liese and Lotte, from Elisabeth and Charlotte. Lilo therefore belongs to a combined name tradition rather than having one independent literal meaning of its own. The German pronunciation, LEE-loh, combines repeated l sounds with a clear change from i to o. It can feel playful and approachable beside the more elaborate Liselotte. That makes Lilo appealing when you like the connection to the longer name but prefer a less formal everyday sound. The girl in Lilo & Stitch provides another association, this time with a story set in Hawaii. It is a cultural connection to the name, separate from its German short-form history. A fondness for the film and a family connection to Liselotte can thus be different reasons to choose the same spelling.

Etymology: German Lilo shortens Liselotte or Lieselotte, a combination of Liese and Lotte, themselves short forms of Elisabeth and Charlotte.