Molly Name Meaning, Origin, Popularity, Girl Names Like Molly

Molly Name Origin: English
Pronunciation: moll-ee
See what 8 people think about Molly

Meaning
Share
Popularity
Alternatives
Lists
Comments

Molly Name Meaning

Molly is a pet form of the name Mary, which means “bitter” or “wished-for child” in Hebrew. But when it comes to the name Molly, most people associate it with the meaning “star of the sea” or “bitter” which is an Old English meaning. But the most popular meaning associated with the name Molly is “brave warrior” or “strong in battle” which is a modern meaning.

History of the Name Molly

The history of the name Molly is rooted in the Middle Ages, but it’s come a long way since then. It was originally a pet form of the name Mary, which was a popular name during the medieval period. The name Mary comes from the Hebrew name “Miriam,” which means “bitter” or “wished-for child.” But don’t worry, the name Molly doesn’t carry any of that negativity. In fact, the name Molly has come to be associated with all things sweet and charming.

Origins of the Name Molly

Molly first appeared as a given name in the late 17th century, as a pet form of Mary, and it quickly gained popularity in England and Ireland. The name was particularly popular among the working class, who used it as a nickname for their daughters named Mary. The name Molly soon spread to the United States, and it’s been a favorite among American parents ever since.

Popularity of Molly

Molly was a popular name during the late 19th and early 20th centuries and has been in decline for the last few decades. However, it’s still a well-known and beloved name. In the early 20th century, it was one of the top 100 most popular names for girls in the United States, and it reached its peak of popularity in the 1970s. The name Molly has seen a resurgence in popularity in recent years.

Final Thoughts on the Name Molly

Molly is a classic name that has stood the test of time. It’s a timeless name that never goes out of style and has a timeless appeal. It’s a charming and sweet name that will suit your little girl perfectly. Plus, the name Molly has a strong, modern meaning that will give your daughter a sense of empowerment as she grows up.

In conclusion, Molly is a lovely name that is both classic and modern, it has a timeless appeal, and a meaning that will empower your daughter as she grows up. It’s a great choice for a girl’s name, whether you’re looking for a traditional name or something a little more unique.

Molly Name Popularity

How popular is the name Molly? Here’s everything we know.

Year	Rank	# Births	% Births
1910	347	85	0.0241%
1911	378	71	0.0191%
1912	332	144	0.0286%
1913	364	134	0.0236%
1914	349	193	0.0277%
1915	330	288	0.0317%
1916	338	285	0.0295%
1917	361	256	0.0256%
1918	372	269	0.0251%
1919	419	198	0.0189%
1920	438	188	0.0169%
1921	386	259	0.0226%
1922	393	238	0.0214%
1923	391	246	0.022%
1924	420	234	0.0202%
1925	457	181	0.016%
1926	434	197	0.0179%
1927	426	213	0.0192%
1928	381	263	0.0246%
1929	378	265	0.0256%
1930	364	292	0.028%
1931	369	258	0.0261%
1932	361	267	0.027%
1933	392	225	0.0242%
1934	364	256	0.0265%
1935	364	257	0.0264%
1936	360	265	0.0275%
1937	375	245	0.0249%
1938	352	292	0.0285%
1939	336	314	0.0309%
1940	346	307	0.0289%
1941	364	295	0.0262%
1942	362	335	0.0265%
1943	377	327	0.025%
1944	368	322	0.026%
1945	383	296	0.0243%
1946	370	376	0.0255%
1947	358	460	0.0276%
1948	334	510	0.0319%
1949	327	528	0.0328%
1950	323	530	0.0329%
1951	321	572	0.0337%
1952	326	589	0.0337%
1953	348	540	0.0305%
1954	352	559	0.0306%
1955	344	579	0.0315%
1956	341	621	0.0329%
1957	342	663	0.0345%
1958	342	707	0.0374%
1959	341	741	0.039%
1960	357	697	0.0368%
1961	338	745	0.0395%
1962	325	793	0.0432%
1963	317	835	0.0465%
1964	287	980	0.0557%
1965	263	1,043	0.0638%
1966	264	958	0.0614%
1967	264	987	0.065%
1968	263	996	0.0663%
1969	263	1,073	0.0696%
1970	259	1,158	0.0728%
1971	245	1,166	0.0776%
1972	225	1,196	0.0878%
1973	194	1,311	0.1011%
1974	179	1,468	0.1129%
1975	169	1,537	0.1196%
1976	150	1,721	0.1335%
1977	143	2,050	0.1521%
1978	142	1,917	0.1426%
1979	139	2,018	0.1431%
1980	133	2,201	0.1505%
1981	135	2,083	0.1417%
1982	131	2,312	0.1547%
1983	129	2,300	0.1559%
1984	132	2,165	0.1455%
1985	120	2,420	0.1594%
1986	110	2,550	0.1689%
1987	97	2,882	0.1889%
1988	86	3,457	0.2218%
1989	93	3,453	0.214%
1990	80	3,960	0.2389%
1991	74	4,651	0.2853%
1992	83	4,136	0.2591%
1993	87	3,702	0.2375%
1994	94	3,437	0.224%
1995	99	3,378	0.2241%
1996	99	3,307	0.2209%
1997	98	3,445	0.2329%
1998	108	3,187	0.2129%
1999	100	3,323	0.2219%
2000	95	3,397	0.2224%
2001	90	3,412	0.2264%
2002	107	3,112	0.2077%
2003	99	3,399	0.2234%
2004	97	3,339	0.2191%
2005	97	3,208	0.2098%
2006	105	3,125	0.1996%
2007	97	3,410	0.2161%
2008	103	3,318	0.2147%
2009	92	3,500	0.2342%
2010	87	3,357	0.233%
2011	78	3,606	0.2531%
2012	90	3,256	0.2285%
2013	102	3,079	0.2163%
2014	122	2,596	0.1782%
2015	141	2,242	0.1541%
2016	154	1,975	0.137%
2017	160	1,807	0.1295%
2018	152	1,780	0.1296%
2019	157	1,726	0.1275%
2020	172	1,591	0.125%
2021	193	1,409	0.1153%
2022	197	1,464	0.111%

Alaska (AK)

Alabama (AL)

Arkansas (AR)

Arizona (AZ)

California (CA)

Colorado (CO)

Connecticut (CT)

District of Columbia (DC)

Delaware (DE)

Florida (FL)

Georgia (GA)

Hawaii (HI)

Iowa (IA)

Idaho (ID)

Illinois (IL)

Indiana (IN)

Kansas (KS)

Kentucky (KY)

Louisiana (LA)

Massachusetts (MA)

Maryland (MD)

Maine (ME)

Michigan (MI)

Minnesota (MN)

Missouri (MO)

Mississippi (MS)

Montana (MT)

North Carolina (NC)

North Dakota (ND)

Nebraska (NE)

New Hampshire (NH)

New Jersey (NJ)

New Mexico (NM)

Nevada (NV)

New York (NY)

Ohio (OH)

Oklahoma (OK)

Oregon (OR)

Pennsylvania (PA)

Rhode Island (RI)

South Carolina (SC)

South Dakota (SD)

Tennessee (TN)

Texas (TX)

Utah (UT)

Virginia (VA)

Vermont (VT)

Washington (WA)

Wisconsin (WI)

West Virginia (WV)

Wyoming (WY)

Data via SSA.gov.

Names Like Molly

If you like Molly, you’ll love these other names like Molly.

What names are variants of Molly?

Mix it up with these names that are a variation of the name Molly.

Name	Meaning	Origin
Moll	Star of the sea	Latin
Mollee		Irish
Molley		Irish
Molli		Irish
Mollie	Star of the sea	Latin

What names sound like Molly?

If you like how Molly sounds, you might also like these names that sound like Molly.

Name	Meaning	Origin
Mally	Sweet	Latin
Melly	Black, dark-skinned; bee; honey; brave strength	Greek
Milly	Industrious, striving; work; helper to the priest; rival; laborious; eager; bee; honey; gentle strength; brave strength	Latin

What names are similar to Molly?

Find a name that’s like Molly, but just a little bit different.

Name	Meaning	Origin	Popularity	Other Gender
Polly	A diminutive form or nickname for Mary.	Latin

Lists With Molly

Find inspiration in these baby girl name lists featuring the name Molly.

Siblings of Molly

Mamas with kids named Molly also have kids with these names.

Name	Meaning	Origin	Popularity	Other Gender
Shepherd	Shepherd	English

Share Your Thoughts

8 Comments

I am, Molly who is so sweet brave in battle. I love my name Apr 23 at 6:58 pm

To thank my mother who called me Molly even if she did not know the meaning and also a good name so sweet as I am featuring my name.

Reply
Jeff Watts Mar 26 at 6:47 am

I have a Rodesein Ridgback, name, Molly ( Star of the sea), she is the most gentle dog you could whish for, very protective of me.A little child who with her mum goes to the same park we use, I was told her name is Molly, now my Molly hase a firm friend, her little face lit up when I told her the meaning of Molly..I have a beautiful dog, she has a beautiful friend, they both have a beautiful Name.

Reply
Molly Mar 2 at 10:27 pm

Am Molly in my country if I tell People my name the first thing they say is that’s a dog’s name some would say that’s a drug. But coming to understand the name Molly, Molly carries a beautiful mean. I wish people would get to know the meaning of my beautiful name

Reply
Molly copelan Sep 5 at 10:30 am

My name is Molly. My Mother must have named me after Molly Pitcher. We have roots in Carlisle, PE
. During WW Ii we lived right next to the graveyard where she is buried. I liked my name until everyone started naming their dog Molly. Even L.L. Bean had a dog bed in their catalog with”Molly” embroidered on it.

Reply
Molly Jun 13 at 4:16 pm

Molly is an ok name to have, not super popular so you only meet the occasional person with the same name. Often gets misheard as Holly or Milly. My biggest complaint is it feels like a little girls name and an old lady name at the same time. Not sure what a middle aged Molly looks like, perhaps consider pairing with a more mature middle name.

Reply
- Molly Jul 16 at 6:00 pm
  
  Forgot to say in the last post: You know that reflex some people have to call their teacher ‘mommy’? Molly and mommy are similar and people have said it on accident. So. Awkward.
  
  Reply
Heather Jun 6 at 7:52 pm

Molly is such a bootiful name and i wuv it and i call my little chunk moll moll

Reply
Stephanie Feb 2 at 10:54 am

We loved the name Molly because it is a classic name, but not super common right now. Everyone knows how to spell and pronounce it. It means “of the sea” which at first I did not really care for, but she was born at home in the water so then it seemed so fitting!

Reply

Molly