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Name Lineage

    The first name Molly

    A girl’s name from Hebrew.

    Pronounced /ˈmɑ.li/ 2 syllables Female

    Meaning and origin

    Hebrew origin

    From Moll, diminutive lambdacism of Mary + -y.

    From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

    Popularity

    Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

    In 2025, 405 girls were named Molly, making it the 120th most popular girls’ name. It peaked in 2001, with 2,987 births (#15).

    01,5003,000 1996200020052010201520202025
    48,131
    babies named Molly, 1996–2025
    #120
    rank in 2025
    2001
    peak year

    Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Molly with other names.

    Popularity in the United States

    Babies named Molly at birth, 1880–2025

    In 2025, 1,601 girls born in the United States were named Molly, the 196th most popular girls’ name that year. It was used most in 1991, when 4,652 were.

    02,5005,000 188018851890189519001905191019151920192519301935194019451950195519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025
    176,487
    babies named Molly since 1880
    #196
    rank in 2025
    1991
    peak year

    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

    Other spellings and forms

    Famous people named Molly

    53 on Wikidata, most written-about first

    • Molly Ringwald
      American actress and writer (born 1968)
    • Molly Shannon
      American actress and comedian (born 1964)
    • Molly Quinn
      American actress, born 1993
    • Molly Smitten-Downes
      English singer, born 1987
    • Molly Sims
      American actress, born 1973
    • Molly Gordon
      American actress, born 1994
    • Molly Parker
      Canadian actress, born 1972
    • Molly Ephraim
      American actress, born 1986
    • Molly Picon
      American actress (1898–1992)
    • Molly Seidel
      American long-distance runner, born 1994
    • Molly Peters
      British actress and model (1942-2017)
    • Molly Cheek
      American actress, born 1950

    More Hebrew girls’ names

    All 346 names of Hebrew origin

    Questions

    What does the name Molly mean?
    From Moll, diminutive lambdacism of Mary + -y.
    What is the origin of the name Molly?
    From Moll, diminutive lambdacism of Mary + -y.
    How popular is the name Molly?
    In 2025, 405 girls born in England and Wales were named Molly, ranking 120th. Its peak was 2001, with 2,987 births.
    Is Molly a boy's or a girl's name?
    Mostly a girl's name: 100% of the 176,487 US babies named Molly since 1880 were girls.
    When was Molly most popular?
    1991 in the United States, when 4,652 babies were named Molly, its highest rank at 74th.
    How do you pronounce Molly?
    Molly is /ˈmɑ.li/, 2 syllables.
    What are other spellings of Molly?
    Mollie.