The first name Holly
A girl’s name from English meaning “holly”, “wood”, “clearing”.
2 syllables Female Also a surname
Meaning and origin
English origin
Holly means “holly”, “wood”, “clearing” in English.
* As an Irish surname, calque of mac cuilinn (“holly”) (see McCullen) and sometimes McQuillan. * As an English surname, variant of Holley. * As a Czech and Slovak surname, variant of Holý, Holy. * Also as a locational English surname, from Old English hol leah (“wood, clearing, meadow”), compare Hollywood. * Also as an English surname, short form of Holiday. * Also as an English surname, after the holly tree. * As a feminine given name popularized by Truman Capote's Breakfast at Tiffany's (especially the 1961 film adaptation starring Audrey Hepburn).
More names that mean forest.
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
In 2025, 285 girls were named Holly, making it the 169th most popular girls’ name. It peaked in 2002, with 3,435 births (#12).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Holly with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Holly at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 751 girls born in the United States were named Holly, the 416th most popular girls’ name that year. It was used most in 1983, when 6,388 were.
US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.
Nicknames and spellings
Famous people named Holly
48 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Arthur Holly ComptonAmerican physicist (1892–1962)
- Holly HunterAmerican actress (born 1958)
- Holly Marie CombsAmerican actress, born 1973
- Holly MadisonAmerican television personality, born 1979
- Holly ValanceAustralian actress and singer, born 1983
- Holly BlackAmerican children's fiction writer, born 1971
- Holly HolmAmerican boxer and mixed martial artist (born 1981)
- Holly BradshawBritish pole vaulter, born 1991
- Holly SampsonAmerican actress and pornographic performer, born 1973
- Holly Robinson PeeteAmerican actress and singer, born 1964
- Holly RandallAmerican photographer and podcaster, born 1978
- Holly TaylorCanadian actress, born 1997
More English girls’ names
Questions
- What does the name Holly mean?
- Holly means “holly”, “wood”, “clearing” in English.
- What is the origin of the name Holly?
- * As an Irish surname, calque of mac cuilinn (“holly”) (see McCullen) and sometimes McQuillan. * As an English surname, variant of Holley. * As a Czech and Slovak surname, variant of Holý, Holy. * Also as a locational English surname, from Old English hol leah (“wood, clearing, meadow”), compare…
- How popular is the name Holly?
- In 2025, 285 girls born in England and Wales were named Holly, ranking 169th. Its peak was 2002, with 3,435 births.
- Is Holly a boy's or a girl's name?
- Mostly a girl's name: 99% of the 206,845 US babies named Holly since 1880 were girls.
- When was Holly most popular?
- 1983 in the United States, when 6,388 babies were named Holly, its highest rank at 48th.
- What are other spellings of Holly?
- Hollie, Hollee, Holli, Hollye and Holley.
- Is Holly also a surname?
- Yes. Holly is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.