Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Dolly
GirlEnglish, Greek· “pet form of Dorothy, "gift of God"”
- Meaning
- pet form of Dorothy, "gift of God"
- Origin
- English, Greek
- Pronunciation
- DAH-lee
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #1,781
- US babies 2025
- 113
- Best rank
- #277 (1881)
- Peak year
- 1926
Meaning and origin of Dolly
Dolly is an English and Greek name that means “pet form of Dorothy, "gift of God"”.
Dolly is an old English pet form of Dorothy, from the Greek Dorothea, gift of God. The word doll itself comes from Doll, another pet form of Dorothy, so the name gave English its word for a toy figure. Dolly was a common nickname in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, and it has well-known bearers such as the country singer Dolly Parton. Dolley Madison, wife of President James Madison, spelled her name with an extra e. It is said DAH-lee. It has a warm, vintage feel and fits with Molly and Polly.
Other spellings with the same sound: Dollie.
Popularity over time
Dolly has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 90 different years. Its best national rank was #277 in 1881, and the most babies received it in 1926, when 395 were named Dolly. In 2025, 113 babies were named Dolly, and it ranked #1,781 nationally. That is 277% more than ten years earlier, so it is clearly on the rise.
Its national rank moved from #352 in 1920, #497 in 1950, #1,612 in 1980, #6,283 in 2000, #5,285 in 2010, and #1,781 in 2025. Of the 20,592 US girls named Dolly since records began, 18% were born in the 1920s, its biggest decade. The 1930s come next, with 3,192 babies. Since 2010, 966 more have been named Dolly.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Wilda, Leatrice, Ruthie, Corrine, and Lenore.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Dolly ranked highest in Mississippi, Utah, and Tennessee.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Mississippi | #545 | 5 |
| Utah | #737 | 5 |
| Tennessee | #829 | 8 |
| Virginia | #1078 | 6 |
| North Carolina | #1084 | 8 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Dolly is usually pronounced DAH-lee, with two syllables. It has five letters, starts with D and ends in “-ly”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Dollie.
Middle names for Dolly
A few middle names that flow with Dolly: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Dolly
Similar names
Ally Girl
A-lee
“pet form of Alison or Alexandra” · English
#2,118
Nelly Girl
NEH-lee
“pet form of Eleanor, Helen or Ellen” · English
#1,294
Polly Girl
PAH-lee
“pet form of Mary via Molly” · English
#2,318
Molly Girl
MAH-lee
“diminutive of Mary” · English
#196
Lilly Girl
LIH-lee
“lily flower” · English
#252
Lexie Girl
LEHK-see
“short for Alexandra; defender” · Greek
#1,357
Sally Girl
SA-lee
“princess” · English
#1,158
Tilly Girl
TIH-lee
“strength in battle” · English
#885
Pippa Girl
PIH-puh
“pet form of Philippa, lover of horses” · English
#1,864
Callie Girl
KAL-ee
“beautiful” · Greek
#175
Tessa Girl
TES-uh
“short for Theresa” · English
#311
Maggie Girl
MAG-ee
“pearl” · English
#294
Lists that include Dolly
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Dolly mean?
Dolly is an English and Greek name that means “pet form of Dorothy, "gift of God"”.
What is the origin of the name Dolly?
Dolly has English and Greek roots. Dolly is an old English pet form of Dorothy, from the Greek Dorothea, gift of God.
Is Dolly a popular name?
Not especially. Dolly ranked #1,781 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Dolly a boy or girl name?
Dolly is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Dolly?
Dolly is usually pronounced DAH-lee. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings