Molly

Molly is a diminutive of Mary, the English variant of Maria. The exact origin and meaning of the biblical name Maria, and thus also of Molly, are not clearly defined.

What does the name Molly mean?

Molly is derived from Mary, which is the English form of the name Maria. The origin and meaning of the biblical name Maria, and thus also of Molly, are not definitively established. One possible meaning from Egyptian could be 'the beloved.' From the Aramaic and Hebrew languages, further meanings can be derived such as 'the (gifted by God),' 'the well-nourished,' 'the sea myrrh,' 'the sea drop,' 'the rebellious one,' or 'the untamed.' More detailed information on the various derivations can be found on the page about the name Maria. The diminutive form Molly appeared as early as the Middle Ages and likely developed from the Middle English form Mally. Originally, Molly was mainly used as a nickname, but it has now established itself as an independent first name. The name is particularly popular in the USA. Other English diminutive forms of Mary include Molli, Mollie, Moly, Polli, and Polly.

Where does the name Molly come from?

Molly is a female first name with ancient Hebrew and Aramaic roots, encompassing meanings such as 'the well-nourished' or 'the sea drop.' The etymologies are: Egyptian: Ancient Hebrew: Aramaic.

How do you pronounce Molly?

The pronunciation of Molly is clear and smooth. The name consists of two syllables and is pronounced as 'Mol-ly' [ˈmɔli]. The open 'o' sound at the beginning gives the name a certain fullness, while the bright 'i' sound at the end provides freshness and lightness. This makes Molly sound friendly and lively – soft and uncomplicated in tone.

When is the name day of Molly?

The most important name day for Molly is September 12, which is dedicated to the Feast of the Holy Name of Mary.

Popularity

In Germany, Molly is among the sought-after first names and currently ranks 2,723rd on the list of the most common female baby names. The best ranking the name achieved was in 2005, with 882nd place. In the last ten years, Molly has been given as a first name about 120 times, placing it 2,228th in the ten-year statistics. From 2010 to 2024, the name ranks 2,223rd.

Nicknames & pet names

Molli / Mollinchen / Molly-Kokolli / Molly-Lolly / Mollychen / Mollypop / Mollyröllchen / Molzi / Möllchen

Similar first names

Molli

Famous people

• Molly Adair (Estonian actress)
• Molly Birnbaum (American author)
• Molly Brown (Titanic survivor)
• Molly Castelloe (American actress)
• Molly Costain Haycraft (Canadian author)
• Molly Creamer (American basketball player)
• Molly Crosby (American author)
• Molly Culver (actress from the USA)
• Molly Ephraim (American actress)
• Molly Erdman (American actress)
• Molly Flaherty (cricketer from the USA)
• Molly Garnier (British artist)
• Molly Hagan (actress from America)
• Molly Hooper (character from Sherlock)
• Molly Johnson (Canadian singer)
• Molly Kate Kestner (American singer)
• Molly Malone (famous Dublin fishmonger from the 19th century)
• Molly McGrann (American author)
• Molly McGuire (Canadian singer)
• Molly Moore (American baseball player)