Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Polly
GirlEnglish, Hebrew· “pet form of Mary via Molly”
- Meaning
- pet form of Mary via Molly
- Origin
- English, Hebrew
- Pronunciation
- PAH-lee
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #2,318
- US babies 2025
- 79
- Best rank
- #225 (1881)
- Peak year
- 1964
Meaning and origin of Polly
Polly is an English and Hebrew name that means “pet form of Mary via Molly”.
Polly is a pet form of Mary, formed from Molly by the rhyming change of M to P, a pattern also seen in Peggy from Meggy. Mary comes from Hebrew Miriam, a name of uncertain meaning. Polly was common in the eighteenth century, and it appears in John Gay's The Beggar's Opera as Polly Peachum. It is also a traditional name for a pet parrot. It is said PAH-lee. Molly, Mary and Pollyanna are related names. Molly and Dolly are rhyming cousins, and Pollyanna, from Eleanor H. Porter's novel, has become a byword for optimism.
Popularity over time
Polly 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 97 different years. Its best national rank was #225 in 1881, and the most babies received it in 1964, when 688 were named Polly. In 2025, 79 babies were named Polly, and it ranked #2,318 nationally. That is 55% more than ten years earlier, so it is clearly on the rise.
Its national rank moved from #386 in 1920, #374 in 1950, #1,235 in 1980, #4,754 in 2000, #4,280 in 2010, and #2,318 in 2025. Of the 29,684 US girls named Polly since records began, 17% were born in the 1950s, its biggest decade. The 1960s come next, with 5,030 babies. Since 2010, 885 more have been named Polly.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Suzette, Rosalind, Valarie, Leann, and Johnna.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Polly ranked highest in North Carolina, Ohio, and New York.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | #1621 | 5 |
| Ohio | #1644 | 5 |
| New York | #2343 | 5 |
| California | #2713 | 7 |
| Texas | #3206 | 6 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Polly is usually pronounced PAH-lee, with two syllables. It has five letters, starts with P and ends in “-ly”.
Middle names for Polly
A few middle names that flow with Polly: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Polly
Similar names
Sally Girl
SA-lee
“princess” · English
#1,158
Ally Girl
A-lee
“pet form of Alison or Alexandra” · English
#2,118
Janie Girl
JAY-nee
“pet form of Jane; God is gracious” · English
#1,329
Nelly Girl
NEH-lee
“pet form of Eleanor, Helen or Ellen” · English
#1,294
Betsy Girl
BET-see
“my God is an oath (via Elizabeth)” · English
#2,724
Dolly Girl
DAH-lee
“pet form of Dorothy, "gift of God"” · English
#1,781
Molly Girl
MAH-lee
“diminutive of Mary” · English
#196
Lilly Girl
LIH-lee
“lily flower” · English
#252
Joey Unisex
JOH-ee
“he will add; short for Joseph” · English
#877
Libby Girl
LIH-bee
“God is my oath” · English
#1,146
Betty Girl
BEH-tee
“short for Elizabeth; my God is an oath” · English
#1,113
Ashly Girl
ASH-lee
“ash tree clearing” · American (modern coinage)
#1,273
Lists that include Polly
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Polly mean?
Polly is an English and Hebrew name that means “pet form of Mary via Molly”.
What is the origin of the name Polly?
Polly has English and Hebrew roots. Polly is a pet form of Mary, formed from Molly by the rhyming change of M to P, a pattern also seen in Peggy from Meggy.
Is Polly a popular name?
Not especially. Polly ranked #2,318 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Polly a boy or girl name?
Polly is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Polly?
Polly is usually pronounced PAH-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