Lillian Wilhelmina "Lily" van der Woodsen (née Rhodes) is the youngest daughter of music executive Richard "Rick" Rhodes and the late Celia "CeCe" Rhodes. Lily is the mother to Serena and Eric van der Woodsen, as well as being the birth mother of Scott Rosson and the adoptive mother to Charles "Chuck" Bass, the latter of whom is the son to her ex-husband Bartholomew "Bart" Bass. She was born August 7, 1967.

She is portrayed as a caring, albeit stern mother who combines a need for human warmth (which she finds through Rufus Humphrey) alongside a deep understanding and respect for societal constraint, hierarchy and obedience.