Girl name origins & meanings
- English : Woman of Magdala
- Hebrew : Bitter; rebellion
- Irish : Bitter
What does Molly mean and stand for?
The name Molly is of Irish origin and means "bitter." It began as a diminutive of Mary, and has been used as its own name since the Middle Ages.
Syllables: 2
Girl name variations
How Popular Is The Name Molly
Famous people with this first name
Famous people who gave their babies this name
Popularity
According to Social Security Administration data, Molly has been fairly stagnant after falling out of the top 100 in 2013. For the past few years, it's mainly stayed between 150 and 170, with a few outliers here and there.
However, it is the 11th most popular name on FamilyEducation.com.
According to Google search data analysis, in the last five years Molly was at its peak popularity in June 2018.
Molly was originally a pet name, but in the last few years, it has really gained momentum as its own independent name. There are various notable namesakes, including actress Molly Kathleen Ringwald, actress Molly Caitlyn Quinn, actress Molly Shannon, American Revolution hero Molly Pitcher, actress Molly Joan Hagan, Molly Kathleen Burnett. Molly is just as apparent in pop culture, as well, appearing in Ulysses, Harry Potter, Sherlock, Mike and Molly, and General Hospital to name a few. It is also the name of an American Girl Doll.
Where is it Popular?
Molly was searched for most often in the following states:
Nicknames for Molly
- Mo
- Mol
Pairs well with these middle names
Appears on
- 25 Creative Nicknames for Margaret
- Names from the American Revolution
- Boomerang Names
- 75 Patriotic Baby Names
- 15 Harry Potter Names Only True Fans will Understand