Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Molly
GirlEnglish, Irish· “diminutive of Mary”
- Meaning
- diminutive of Mary
- Origin
- English, Irish
- Pronunciation
- MAH-lee
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #196
- US babies 2025
- 1,601
- Best rank
- #74 (1991)
- Peak year
- 1991
Meaning and origin of Molly
Molly is an English and Irish name that means “diminutive of Mary”.
Molly began as a medieval English and Irish pet form of Mary, which comes from the Hebrew Miryam, a name of uncertain meaning. Pet forms such as Molly, Polly and Mamie were common in English-speaking homes, and Molly in particular became associated with Ireland through songs such as Molly Malone, the ballad of a Dublin street seller. Today Molly is used as an independent given name. It is warm, cheerful and a little old-fashioned in the best sense. Molly works well for a child and an adult, and it can be paired with a longer formal middle name for balance.
Other spellings with the same sound: Mollie, Mali.
Popularity over time
Molly 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 146 different years. Its best national rank was #74 in 1991, the same year it reached its highest count of 4,652 babies. In 2025, 1,601 babies were named Molly, and it ranked #196 nationally. That is 29% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #427 in 1920, #324 in 1950, #133 in 1980, #96 in 2000, #87 in 2010, and #196 in 2025. Of the 176,127 US girls named Molly since records began, 21% were born in the 1990s, its biggest decade. The 2000s come next, with 33,271 babies. Since 2010, 34,774 more have been named Molly.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Erika, Bianca, Kara, Rachael, and Chelsey.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Molly ranked highest in Vermont, Massachusetts, and Louisiana.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Vermont | #94 | 5 |
| Massachusetts | #98 | 57 |
| Louisiana | #100 | 39 |
| New Jersey | #112 | 67 |
| Connecticut | #113 | 26 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Molly is usually pronounced MAH-lee, with two syllables. It has five letters, starts with M and ends in “-ly”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Mollie and Mali.
Middle names for Molly
A few middle names that flow with Molly: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Molly
Similar names
Lilly Girl
LIH-lee
“lily flower” · English
#252
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
Tilly Girl
TIH-lee
“strength in battle” · English
#885
Kelly Girl
KEH-lee
“descendant of Ceallach” · Irish
#852
Holly Girl
HAH-lee
“the holly tree” · English
#416
Dolly Girl
DAH-lee
“pet form of Dorothy, "gift of God"” · English
#1,781
Polly Girl
PAH-lee
“pet form of Mary via Molly” · English
#2,318
Lily Girl
LIH-lee
“lily flower” · English
#18
Rylee Girl
RY-lee
“form of Riley; from a surname” · Irish
#137
Piper Girl
PY-pur
“pipe player” · English
#155
Gracie Girl
GRAY-see
“grace” · English
#227
Lists that include Molly
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Molly mean?
Molly is an English and Irish name that means “diminutive of Mary”.
What is the origin of the name Molly?
Molly has English and Irish roots. Molly began as a medieval English and Irish pet form of Mary, which comes from the Hebrew Miryam, a name of uncertain meaning.
Is Molly a popular name?
Yes. Molly ranked #196 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Molly a boy or girl name?
Molly is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Molly?
Molly is usually pronounced MAH-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