You know that feeling. You’re sitting there on a Sunday morning, maybe a coffee in hand, staring at a grid of black and white squares. You’re on a roll, filling in the blanks left and right, until you hit a wall.
The clue reads something like: “Phil or Lil of Rugrats.”
It’s usually seven letters long.
Your brain instantly goes to the images of those two bald-headed babies with the matching teal outfits. One has a pink bow, the other wears blue shorts, but they are essentially carbon copies. You remember they eat worms. You remember their mom, Betty, was a powerhouse. But for the life of you, what is their last name?
If you just need the answer so you can move on with your life, here it is:
DEVILLE
But hey, if you’re anything like me, seeing that name probably unlocked a core memory. Suddenly, you aren’t just solving a puzzle; you’re back in 1994, sitting too close to the TV, watching Nickelodeon. Why were Phil and Lil so iconic? And why do crossword constructors love them so much?
Let’s dig into the mud and talk about the DeVille twins.
The Answer Explained: Why “DeVille”?
It sounds surprisingly fancy for two toddlers who spent the majority of their screen time drooling or arguing over bug larvae, doesn’t it? DeVille. It sounds like a luxury car or a villain in a Disney movie.
In the context of the show, their full names are Phillip and Lillian DeVille. Their parents were Howard and Betty DeVille. The contrast between the surname—which implies some level of class or French sophistication—and the absolute chaos of the DeVille household was one of those subtle jokes the creators slipped in for the adults. Betty was loud, brash, and wore a sweatband with the fierce energy of an Olympian. Howard was quiet, neurotic, and essentially terrified of everything.
And then you had Phil and Lil.
Crossword puzzles love this answer because it’s the perfect length (7 letters) and contains a nice mix of vowels and consonants. It’s obscure enough that Gen Z might struggle with it, but iconic enough that anyone who lived through the 90s should snap their fingers and get it.
Other Possible Crossword Variations
While “DEVILLE” is the most common answer for the “Phil or Lil” clue, crossword makers can be tricky. Sometimes the clue is worded differently. Here are a few other possibilities you might run into:
- TWINS: If the clue is “Phil and Lil, e.g.” (5 letters).
- RUGRATS: If the clue is “Show featuring Phil and Lil” (7 letters).
- BETTY: If the clue refers to “Phil and Lil’s mom” (5 letters).
- WORMS: If the clue is “Phil and Lil’s favorite snack” (5 letters). Okay, that one is unlikely, but it would be hilarious.
The Magic of the Twins
Honestly, Rugrats wouldn’t have worked without them. Tommy Pickles was the brave leader. Chuckie Finster was the anxious heart of the group. Angelica was the antagonist. But Phil and Lil? They were the chaotic neutral element. They were the “yes men” of the group, but in the weirdest way possible.
They represented that specific phase of toddlerhood where hygiene is just a suggestion.
I remember watching an episode where they were arguing over who got to eat a particularly juicy earthworm. As a kid, it was gross-out humor at its finest. As an adult, I realize it was actually a pretty brilliant depiction of twin dynamics. They were inseparable, literally finishing each other’s sentences (or burps), yet they were constantly bickering.
If you want to really deep dive into the history of the show, you can check out the Rugrats Wiki which catalogs every single muddy adventure they ever had. It’s a rabbit hole, I warn you.
How to Tell Them Apart (Without the Bow)
This was always the playground debate. Obviously, Lil had the bow. But there were deeper differences if you paid attention.
Lil was often the instigator. She was slightly more verbal and usually the one to push Phil into doing something dangerous. Phil, on the other hand, was often the test subject. He was the one who checked if the mud was too deep or if the cat was sleeping.
Interestingly, in the reboot of the series on Paramount+, they actually changed the dynamic significantly, making Betty a single mom and exploring different facets of their personalities. But for the sake of your crossword puzzle, we are sticking to the classic 1991 era.
Why Are We Still Talking About Rugrats?
It’s weird how pop culture stays with us. You might not remember your high school locker combination, but you remember the name of the twins from a cartoon you haven’t watched in twenty years.
Shows like Rugrats were “pillar” content for a generation. They taught us about friendship, fear, and that it’s okay to be weird. The DeVille twins taught us that sometimes, you just gotta get your hands dirty.
Crosswords act as these little cultural archivists. By keeping clues like “Phil or Lil of Rugrats” in rotation, they ensure that names like “DeVille” don’t fade into obscurity. It forces us to access those dusty files in our brains.
If you love diving into nostalgia like this, you might enjoy browsing through lists of old 90s Nickelodeon shows on IMDb. It’s a great way to waste an afternoon when you should probably be working.
Strategies for Tough Pop Culture Clues
So, you got “DEVILLE” this time. But what about the next time a random cartoon character pops up in the NYT Sunday puzzle?
- Check the Date: Older puzzles (or puzzles aimed at an older demographic) will reference 70s and 80s cartoons. Newer indie crosswords are more likely to drop a SpongeBob or Adventure Time reference.
- Count the Letters: It sounds obvious, but write out the possible names. Is it the first name? Last name? Nickname?
- Think of the Parents: Often, cartoon characters share last names with parents who might be mentioned in the clue.
- Don’t Panic, Just Skip: If “Phil or Lil” has you stumped, work the crossing words. Getting the “V” or the double “L” usually makes the answer obvious.
FAQs About Phil, Lil, and Crosswords
Q: Is the answer ever “Pickles”?
A: No, that’s Tommy and Dil’s last name. If the clue asks for “Tommy’s brother,” the answer is DIL. If it asks for the “Rugrats protagonist,” it’s TOMMY.
Q: Are Phil and Lil identical twins?
A: Technically, they are fraternal twins because they are male and female. However, in the animation style of the show, they are drawn identically except for the bow and shorts/dress.
Q: Why do crossword puzzles use so many old pop culture references?
A: Crosswords are created by people, and those people tend to pull from their own knowledge base. Also, older shows like Rugrats have reached a status of “general knowledge.” They assume most people have at least heard of them.
Q: What is the dad’s name again?
A: Howard. He’s the one with the red hair and the glasses who looks constantly worried.
Q: Did Phil and Lil ever have a spin-off?
A: They were part of All Grown Up!, which showed them as pre-teens. Phil still had the cowlick, and Lil became a bit of a rebel. It was… interesting.