Molly

What does the baby name “Molly” mean?

Molly is a classic English pet form of Mary, carrying centuries of Irish and British warmth in a name that feels simultaneously old-fashioned and completely at home today.

Origin of the baby name Molly

Molly developed as an informal pet name for Mary through a process linguists call lambdacism, in which the "r" sound in a name is swapped for an "l" sound, giving Moll and then Molly from the name Mary. Mary itself derives from the Hebrew name Miriam (מִרְיָם), whose exact meaning is debated but has been interpreted as "drop of the sea," "bitter," "beloved," or possibly a name of Egyptian origin. Moll and Molly were in common use in England and Ireland as familiar forms of Mary from at least the 16th century onward.

History of the baby name “Molly”

Molly has been beloved in Ireland and Britain for centuries, functioning for much of its history as a nickname that gradually became a full given name in its own right. It was so widely used in the 18th and 19th centuries that "Molly" became a generic affectionate term for an Irish girl in British popular culture, much as "Polly" did for Mary in a different form. Through the 20th century Molly fell out of fashion and then came roaring back, becoming one of the most popular baby girl names in English-speaking countries in the 2000s and 2010s.

Why parents choose the baby name “Molly”

Molly is the kind of name that practically everyone has warm feelings about, and that is no accident. It has a round, cheerful sound, it is impossible to mispronounce, and it carries generations of affection in its two syllables without ever feeling heavy. Parents love that it sounds both distinctly classic and completely fresh, a rare combination that explains why Molly has stayed in style through so many eras.

Nicknames for the Baby Name “Molly”

Moll, Molly, Mollin, Mollkin, Mollster, Mollerino, Mollinator

Nicknames from Around the World for the Baby Name “Molly”

Terms of endearment for a baby name work differently around the world. Some cultures clip the name short, while others add an affectionate ending that can make it longer instead. Here is how the baby name Molly might sound as a nickname in a few other languages and dialects.

Variations on the baby name “Molly”

Mollie is the most common alternative spelling, used by many families who prefer the "-ie" ending. Mollye is a rarer variant. Mary, the original name from which Molly derives, remains one of the most used names in the world and appears in countless international forms: Marie in French and German, María in Spanish, Maria in Italian and Portuguese, Miriam in Hebrew, and Maryam in Arabic. All of these form the deep root from which cheerful little Molly sprang.

Baby names similar to “Molly”

These baby names share spelling patterns with Molly and may appeal to parents who love the look and feel of this name.

Baby names that sound like “Molly”

Baby sibling names for Molly

Matched by similar popularity, name length, and ending sound. See baby sibling names with numerology compatible with Molly →

Baby Middle Names for Molly

Picked for a different ending sound and rhythm than Molly, so the two names flow well said together as a pair.

The “Name Game” for “Molly”

Baby names starting with MOL

Baby names ending with LLY