Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Holly
GirlEnglish, Old English· “the holly tree”
- Meaning
- the holly tree
- Origin
- English, Old English
- Pronunciation
- HAH-lee
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #416
- US babies 2025
- 751
- Best rank
- #48 (1979)
- Peak year
- 1983
Meaning and origin of Holly
Holly is an English and Old English name that means “the holly tree”.
Holly is taken from the evergreen plant with glossy, spiky leaves and bright red berries. The word goes back to Old English holegn. Holly has long been used for winter decoration and is strongly associated with Christmas, which is why the name was often given to girls born in December. It became a popular given name in the twentieth century as part of the wave of nature names. Audrey Hepburn's character Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany's added a touch of glamour. The name is cheerful, friendly and easy to spell.
Other spellings with the same sound: Hollie, Holley.
Popularity over time
Holly first appears in US Social Security records in 1893. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 89 different years, starting in 1936. Its best national rank was #48 in 1979, and the most babies received it in 1983, when 6,388 were named Holly. In 2025, 751 babies were named Holly, and it ranked #416 nationally. Its use has been fairly steady over the past decade.
Its national rank moved from #2,113 in 1920, #266 in 1950, #52 in 1980, #189 in 2000, #409 in 2010, and #416 in 2025. Of the 205,304 US girls named Holly since records began, 25% were born in the 1970s, its biggest decade. The 1980s come next, with 49,653 babies. Since 2010, 10,968 more have been named Holly.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Latoya, Alicia, Lindsay, Candice, and Lindsey.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Holly ranked highest in District of Columbia, Idaho, and Montana.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | #163 | 5 |
| Idaho | #207 | 11 |
| Montana | #230 | 5 |
| Minnesota | #236 | 24 |
| New Hampshire | #253 | 5 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Holly is usually pronounced HAH-lee, with two syllables. It has five letters, starts with H and ends in “-ly”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Hollie and Holley.
Middle names for Holly
A few middle names that flow with Holly: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Holly
Similar names
Oakley Unisex
OHK-lee
“oak clearing” · English
#156
Aspen Girl
AS-puhn
“aspen tree” · English
#266
Ashley Girl
ASH-lee
“ash tree clearing” · English
#164
Summer Girl
SUH-mur
“the season of summer” · English
#152
Blakely Girl
BLAYK-lee
“dark clearing” · English
#191
Raven Girl
RAY-vuhn
“raven, the black bird” · English
#404
Ashly Girl
ASH-lee
“ash tree clearing” · American (modern coinage)
#1,273
Haily Girl
HAY-lee
“variant of Hailey: hay clearing” · English
#6,638
Shelly Girl
SHEH-lee
“variant of Shelley, "clearing on a bank"” · English
#5,884
Kimberly Girl
KIHM-bur-lee
“from an English place name” · Old English
#303
Molly Girl
MAH-lee
“diminutive of Mary” · English
#196
Olive Girl
AH-lihv
“olive tree” · English
#197
Lists that include Holly
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Holly mean?
Holly is an English and Old English name that means “the holly tree”.
What is the origin of the name Holly?
Holly has English and Old English roots. Holly is taken from the evergreen plant with glossy, spiky leaves and bright red berries.
Is Holly a popular name?
Yes. Holly ranked #416 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Holly a boy or girl name?
Holly is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Holly?
Holly is usually pronounced HAH-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